Grimson ready to tackle his next feature

With the best strike rate out of the top 10 harness racing trainers in New South Wales young horseman Jason Grimson is ready for his next challenge.

Fresh off training a double at Menangle on Saturday night, the 27-year-old mentor will now focus on tomorrow’s Group 2 Treuer Memorial at Bankstown with his mare Rubies For Tash.

She is the only mare in the $50,000 time-honoured feature but that has not deterred punters from making her the favourite.

The daughter of Courage Under Fire will have to overcome her outside second row draw to live up to her $3.70 favouritism.

“I’m not worried about the draw,” said Grimson.

“The way she races she should be able to get on the back of a good one to take her into the race and if the race is run genuine, she should be hard to beat.

“She’s really good on a half mile track, she’s held some track records in the bush before and that’s why I put her in this race.”

Only one mare has won the Treuer Memorial since its inception in in 1983 and that was the Colin De Fillipi-trained-and-driven Kyms Girl in 2001.

As for Rubies For Tash she has had four starts with Grimson for two wins and as many second placings and ran a personal best mile rate of 1:51.4 when winning last start at Menangle.

“I might take her up to Queensland after this run,” said Grimson.

“If I go up, I might also take Island Fire Dance for the Oaks up there too.

“She is a pretty good filly that has only had the two starts with me.”

With a possible Queensland trip on the cards for Grimson, he will not be taking last Saturday night’s impressive Menangle winner The Stunning Nun who rated 1:49.7 to beat stablemate Rocknroll Angel, giving Grimson the quinella in the race.

Grimson also caused another upset on the night when his three-year-old gelding Hy Voltage won beating the favourites Vincent Van Gone (second) and Aladdin (last) in a rate of 1:51.8.

“He really surprised me and he’ll most likely have one more start and I’ll turn him out and get him ready for the Breeders Challenge,” said Grimson.

“The Stunning Nun didn’t surprise me with her run, she had three wins for me before that and every time another horse gets to her wheel she finds another gear.”

Grimson has now trained 42 winners this season and a further 41 placings giving him a strike rate of 64 per cent for the term.

The 13 horses in his stable have placed in the Retention Facility at Menangle since last Sunday and will remain there for another week under the supervision of the Harness Racing New South Wales stewards.

By Amanda Rando for Harnesslink