THE Monstar has a peerless record on his home track on his side as he attempts to win-back-to-back $40,000 City Handicap’s on the opening day of the Albury Gold Cup carnival on Thursday.
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The Albury speedster will carry a career high weight of 61.5kg in the 1175m dash, but trainer Brett Cavanough has declared the five-year-old is primed to add to his list of carnival feature race successes.
The biggest weight The Monstar has lumped in a race was the last run of his first preparation in late 2013 after starting his career with three straight wins including two on his home track.
The Monstar was pipped on the line carrying 60.5kg at Wagga then spelled.
Cavanough said his stable star had earned his big weight in the City Handicap and goes into the race with a perfect record from five starts at Albury.
"He is pretty well handicapped," he said.
"He is a tough racehorse and has been racing in a lot higher class.
"He knows all about pressure and all I can say is good luck."
The Monstar has been highly competitive in city class with one of his best efforts being a fourth at group two level in the Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield last spring.
Cavanough has again tossed him into the deep end this preparation and last Saturday The Monstar finished sixth at group three level in Sydney.
"He has had a really good five or six days rest and is right to go," he said.
"We will have a crack at this one and aim up for the winter.
"We never targeted this race, but it's in our backyard."
Cavanough is also confident stablemate Lampedusa will finish in the top four in the City Handicap, but has scratched another stable member Escebee after drawing barrier 15 and will target the Flat Knacker on cup day.
"I was lucky I could split them for very similar prizemoney," he said.
John Kissick will ride The Monstar for the first time in the City Handicap with his regular jockey Richard Bensley presently sidelined due to injury.
Jake Duffy will partner Lampedusa.
Cavanough's NSW Country Championships qualifier Steakandbearnaise will fine tune his preparation for the $400,000 Randwick final in the $40,000 Albury Mile on Thursday.
The first day of the carnival will have a touch of royalty with Queen Elizabeth's horse, Bold Sniper, to resume in the Albury Mile.
He knows all about pressure and all I can say is good luck
- Brett Cavanough