Big race ambitions on radar for Alberta Bound

By Glenn Davis

Veteran trainer Graham Hughes could have some lofty big race ambitions on the radar if promising filly Alberta Bound continues her progression in Cairns on Thursday.

Hughes, who turned 72 in September, is hopeful Alberta Bound will measure up to next year’s Cleveland Bay Handicap in Townsville.

He is also keeping his powder dry regarding a possible trip south for the Queensland Summer Racing Carnival.

“I wouldn’t be afraid to take her south, so the Magic Millions is not out of the picture if her form is good enough,” Hughes said.

“Long range, we’ll probably look at the winter races here in the north and she wouldn’t be out of place in the Cleveland Bay.”

Hughes has been training for more than half a century and won the Cleveland Bay Handicap with Prince Lonely in 1981.

Alberta Bound is set to make her comeback with Ryan Wiggins aboard in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap over 950 metres in Cairns on Thursday.

“She’ll race well first-up but she could be a bit new,” Hughes warned.

Alberta Bound is a full sister to the Scott Cooper-trained Gold Classic who won the 2024 Pallarenda Stakes in Townsville.

The daughter of Dracarys was a $40,000 buy at the Magic Millions March sales at the Gold Coast and started her career under Cooper.

Under Cooper, Alberta Bound won three of her first four starts before she was moved on to Hughes.

“She came to me because it’s more central for her to be based here in Townsville as it’s not as far to go to places like Mackay for QTIS races,” Hughes said.

Alberta Bound has started seven times for Hughes for two wins and three placings.

She hasn’t raced since a dominant all-the-way win against her own age in Townsville on August 1 when she gapped her opposition by more than four lengths over 1200 metres.

“It was a nice win that day when Ryan rode her and he’s got a big opinion of her,” Hughes said.

Hughes is just glad he’s still around to continue training after a serious float incident recently.

He was knocked to the ground and taken to hospital when a horse took fright while being unloaded from his float a few weeks ago.

“I got bowled over by a horse I was unloading off a truck and woke up in hospital,” Hughes said.

“I was in hospital for five days with a small bleed on the brain and I’ve only just been cleared of any trauma.

“I’ve been given the all-clear now but I’m still getting physio on my shoulder which I hurt.

”I’m not sure what caused the horse to take fright but perhaps a partition came down.”