A Group 1 Dream awaits for Grima

Emerging New South Wales-trainer Seaton Grima is set to chase his first top-level feature with a win in Saturday night’s Group 1 Benstud Queen Of The Pacific with My Moonlite Dream (Always B Miki).

Grima, will leave his mare in the hands of Victorian horseman, Nathan Jack ahead of Saturday night’s time-honoured classic.

“She will leave here (Sydney) first thing tomorrow (Oct 10) morning and head to Nathan Jack’s place and he will look after her till Saturday and he has got the drive as well,” Grima said.

“I will fly down on Saturday.”

The five-year-old has had string of good performance and has not missed the placings in her last six runs, which has included two wins.

“She is the best I could have her, she seems to go better fresh, she had three weeks between runs before she came out and went 1.50 (mile rate),” he said.

“This run being over the long trip, I don’t mind her being fresh coming into the run.”

The daughter of Miss Moonlite has drawn nine for Saturday night’s 2760m trip.

“She will come out and follow a horse that will probably start favourite in Aardies Express (two),” he said.

“There should be a bit of speed early and with Aardies Express drawing two a few might try and get across her, hopefully there is a bit of speed early and we can tuck her away and she can come over them late.”

Grima , 21, is yet to taste a Group 1 triumph, but Saturday night could be a special ride if the horseman could achieve a top-level feature.

“To break my maiden Group 1 that would be a thrill, I have won plenty of Saturday night races and a few Group 3 races, but to crack the Group 1 level this early in my career and to do it with a horse that has put me on the map a bit,” he said.

“This would be my second Group 1 start with her and I have only given her 10 starts, she has helped me and hopefully we can get a Group 1 to repay the owners.”

The Margaret Lee-prepared, Jilliby Willow has drawn one with Jason Lee set to pilot. Expected favourite, Aardies Express has drawn two for fellow New South Wales-trainer Jason Grimson.

The Group 1 Benstud Queen Of The Pacific is set to go at 7.31pm.

The Queen Of The Pacific is one of six Group 1 features on Sportsbet Victoria Cup night which includes the Bill Collins Trotters Sprint and The Victoria Oaks.

The October 12 meeting will be shown on Sky Racing, with a special free-to-air broadcast on Racing.com’s channels 68 and 78.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Lachlan Mitchell, for Harness Racing Victoria