LOFTY'S Menu went a small way to making amends for being the beaten favourite in last year's NSW Country Championships final at Randwick by taking out the David Wallace City Handicap (1175m) on Friday.
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The six-year-old impressed punters when he won the Goulburn heat of the country championships, but finished fifth in the rich final for trainer John Bateman.
Lofty's Menu was ridden to victory at Goulburn by Paul King who was also aboard the gelding in the City Handicap in his first visit to Albury.
The gelding hugged the rail from his inside barrier and exploded once clear to score by 1 ¼ lengths from Hill Spy who charged home late in search of back-to-back wins in the race.
Lofty's Menu has had just won run this preparation after recovering from a chipped bone in his fetlock.
"It took him a little while to get over it," Bateman said.
"But it's all good now and looks like he has come back alright.
"We just had to give him and time and be patient.
"He has gone up a little bit in the ratings now.
"He has become hard horse to place and hence why we are here today.
"He didn't really get through the heavy going the other day.
"He is a better horse when he gets over 1400m or maybe a mile."
King said he walked the Albury track before the race and saw no reason to move away from the rail in the run.
"We drew well and knew there was going to be speed in the race. I just had to keep taking those short cuts when they came," he said.
"He let down really well."
King has a perfect record from three rides on Lofty's Menu.
Bateman is based at Goulburn and has had his training licence less than three years.
He previously managed the Goulburn stables of the late Guy Walter, who won the 2014 Albury Gold Cup with Canny Ballad.
Walter previously trained Lofty's Menu who also had a stint with Paul Snowden before joining the Bateman team.
Lofty's Menu career prizemoney is nudging towards $200,000.
Smakatus also charged late to grab third for Albury trainer Graham Hulm, but he was left despondent by the performance of race favourite, Lord Von Costa.
He has become a hard horse to place and hence why we are here today
- Trainer John Bateman
The $3.20 elect overcome a tardy start to be up running close to the speed before being shuffled back approaching the turn and eventually finishing last.
"He half missed the kick, but got going and then got two bad checks in the run," Hulm said.
"He had a wall of horses in front of him and everywhere he tried to go the runs kept getting closed up."
