The seven-year-old gelding won the Listed event two years ago with champion hoop Nash Rawiller aboard.

Extra Zero started favourite in Sunday’s $200,000 Canberra Cup and ran third in the race won by the Guy Walter-trained Jacquinot Bay.

Hayes’ racing manager Jason Timperley yesterday said while he didn’t know how Extra Zero had pulled up after Sunday’s run, there was a strong chance he would contest his third Albury Cup on March 28,

“It is an obvious target for him, providing he is fit,” he said.

Extra Zero finished runner-up behind Paddy O’Reilly in 2011 in the cup’s strongest field.

Hayes has a strong recent record in the race — he also won it with Growl in 2010.

Timperley also said stable­mates Backstedt and Whisper Downs were likely to be nominated for the Riverina’s richest race.

“Backstedt is set to run in the Yarra Valley Cup on Sunday and could also be a chance to run at Albury, alongside Whisper Downs,” he said.

In a another bonus for Albury, the Lloyd Williams-owned Sea Moon could be nominated.

The Macedon Lodge stable could not be contacted for ­comment yesterday.