THIS time last year trainer Ron Stubbs was lamenting his rotten luck.
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His emerging sprinter Yousay Bolt was in form and set to battle out favouritism for the Country Championship qualifier at Albury.
But on the Wednesday before the $150,00 feature, Stubbs was forced to withdraw his stable star because of a temperature.
He immediately sent her to the spelling paddock.
Stubbs is hoping to have his patience rewarded on Saturday with Yousay Bolt once again amongst the leading fancies for the 1400m feature.
"With News Girl coming out, it looks a very even affair with a stack of winning hopes," Stubbs said.
"It seems each year the race gets a touch stronger and looking at the final field it has certainly raised the bar again."
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Yousay Bolt stormed into Country Championship calculations after a barnstorming victory at Canberra in a highly sought after Federal feature in late January.
Stubbs said it would pay to forgive Yousay Bolt's last-start performance at Canberra over the Championship distance of 1400m.
"I thought her win two starts back at Canberra was fairly impressive, especially when you have a close look at her sectionals," he said.
"She was disappointing last-start but I think there were a few excuses.
"The track was a bit unpredictable - the rating changed three times throughout the meeting.
"The rail was out eight metres and a lot of the winners were coming down the centre of the track.
"We were trapped wide without cover and it was a forgive run."
Unlike some of her more fancied rivals, Yousay Bolt is set to get an economical trip after drawing ideally in barrier four.
In another strong form pointer, in demand jockey Mathew Cahill has decided to stick with Yousay Bolt.
Cahill boasts an impressive record in feature races at Albury including four Albury Gold Cups.
"I couldn't be happier with the draw and she should get a nice, soft run for there," he said.
"Especially when you consider where some of her main rivals are drawn.
"If she can reproduce those sectionals at Canberra two starts back - I expect her to be fighting out the finish."
Yousay Bolt has only had one previous attempt over 1400m when running midfield at Canberra at her most recent start.
Stubbs said his mare had won over 1200m on three occasions and the extra furlong won't pose a problem.
"When she won at Canberra over 1200m last month, she hit the line strongly and was running away from them.
"So on that performance it would be hard to argue she couldn't run 1400m."
Yousay Bolt is quoted as a $10-chance.
