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By Graeme White

Having ticked off his 50th winner for the season, jockey John Kissick has realistic expectations not aiming too high just to be consistent and keep improving.

Kissick’s career appeared over after a serious back injury saw him stagnate for a few years but now the winners continue to roll as he gains momentum.

With only two weeks of the season remaining, Kissick hopes to add to his tally at Albury on Friday with six rides on the eight-race program.

Wagga-based jockey John Kissick has half a dozen attractive mounts at Friday's Albury meeting

The soon-to-be-father is grateful to be back riding and more importantly riding winners.

“I had a good day at Narrandera on Cup Day with three straight winners and when you are riding winners it helps a lot with your other rides,” he said.

“It has taken a long time to get back to where I am and I’m just grateful to be doing what I do, but I have different expectations now and other interests.”

Kissick has a great opportunity aboard topweight Dandruff in the rescheduled Adrian Ledger Memorial Benchmark 66 (2000m).

The feature race was due to be held at the Albury Cup meeting, but it was rescheduled after being washed out.

Dandruff is already a winner at Albury this campaign and has been prominent in two starts since with placings at Morphettville and Wagga.

His latest effort came behind First Day and Due Calzini – the latter winning his past two starts,

Dandruff has 61kg to carry on the Heavy 9 rated track with Golden Hips (59.5kg) and Straight Fire (59kg) also prominent in the weights.

Straight Fire has been consistent of late with a win and two placings from her past three starts with Canberra trainer Todd Smart expecting another strong performance.

“She has had one start over 2000 metres before and ran third and last time out she wasn’t far away,” he said.

Smart will also head to Sydney on Saturday with impressive debut winner I Show Speed at Rosehill Gardens where it is a $15 chance on TAB.

Meanwhile, the win will come but it’s a matter of when for trainer Wayne Carroll. He will be represented by Elastane Miss in the WWS Health Professionals Country Boosted Class 1 (1000m).

The mare looks a strong hope in the opening race with the resuming Jackpot Star considered the main danger.

“We are having a frustrating run with a lot of placings. You strive to win and we have been close – the horses are paying their way,” he said.

Carroll was referring to his past 50 starters which have produced 22 placings of which the majority have been seconds.

Elastane MIss, who will be ridden by stable apprentice Ella McGuirk, won and was placed second at three of her past four starts. Her only failure was last start when she suffered cardiac arrhythmia.

With race fitness on her side and with proven wet track form, Carroll expects Elastane Miss to be in the finish.

“Jackpot Star is the one to beat but my mare should be right there. She had that problem last start and has been fine since. Her previous form was very consistent,” he said.

Leading jockey Nick Heywood will ride Jackpot Star as he edges towards last season’s figures. He sits on 92 winners in NSW for the season – one behind what he achieved in the previous season.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Albury here