Yousay Bolt looks on target to be a major player in the SDRA Country Championship Qualifier at Albury next month after a barnstorming victory at Canberra on Friday.
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The Ron Stubbs-trained mare scored her first victory in more than 12 months in the $40,000 Federal Hcp, (1200m) with Mathew Cahill aboard.
Yousay Bolt was among the leading fancies for the Championship Qualifier last year taken out by the Donna Scott-trained Bennelong Dancer.
But Stubbs was forced to withdraw his promising mare on the Wednesday before the lucrative feature with an elevated temperature and immediately sent her for a spell.
Stubbs said it was satisfying to see Yousay Bolt return to form after finishing near the tail of the field when resuming at Wagga earlier this month.
"It was pleasing to see her back in the winner's stall," Stubbs said.
"I didn't know what to expect from her first-up at Wagga and although I was satisfied with her run, I wasn't completely happy.
"She has always had a few niggles during her career and it's always in the back of your mind if she is carrying some sort of injury.
"But Friday certainly proved she is somewhere back near her best."
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Stubbs has always had a high opinion of Yousay Bolt who has had two previous city starts at Randwick and Flemington.
The five-year-old mare highlighted her ability with a second-placing in a TAB Highway at Randwick just over 12 months ago.
Stubbs said the Country Championship Qualifier at Albury on Februrary 22 was firmly on the radar.
"It's been a 12-month plan to target the race," he said.
