In-form trainer looks to stub out Victorian challenge

So often has leading Albury trainer Ron Stubbs carried the local load in the face of a swarm of Victorian raiders crossing the border to feast on superior prizemoney.

And Monday shapes as one of the fiercest border challenges yet, as the home stable eyes off a treble with three progressive runners.

The first of the Stubbs-trained big shots is talented three-year-old Rising Water, who shapes as a leading chance in a competitive Class 1 and Maiden Plate over 1600m, which has attracted nine Victorians from eight stables.

A son of group 1-winning sprinter Headwater, Rising Water jumped the border to claim his maiden at Tatura two starts ago before returning home and stiff not to win when finishing fast in a class 1 over the same trip.

Given a month between runs, Rising Water will be further aided if it stays dry and the track can improve well into a soft range.

The stable then saddles up exciting and unbeaten five-year-old Cooee in a benchmark 58 handicap over 1500m. The aptly named son of Holler has overcome difficulties to win maiden and class 1 races, and will be aimed at a country carnival race over a middle distance if he takes care of this lot.

Bookmakers had Cooee an early $3.20 favourite ahead of two other Riverina hopes, Nats Enough ($3.90) and Tiszo Fab ($4.40)

The third of the Stubbs-trained trio is tough three-year-old He’s My Warrior, who hasn’t missed a place in his last four, including two runs up to provincial BM64 level when he was with David Payne.

Since relocating to Albury the gelding has seemingly lost none of that trademark determination, and looks ideally placed on a sound race map, and in conditions he prefers.