Gray lines up six at Forbury meeting

Ryal Bush harness racing trainer Brett Gray will be hoping to conclude the first half of the season in style when he fronts up this Saturday for the Forbury Park TC meeting at Wyndham with six runners.

Two year old gelding Harrys Deal (Betterthancheddar) lines up in Race One. He was an impressive winner at last Friday’s Winton Workouts, winning by four lengths and running his last 800 metres in 56.5.

“He’s quite a nice horse and we quite like him. He does everything right but he gets a wee bit keen behind the gate. He’s been trialling well and hasn’t done too much wrong. He’s a good chance,” Gray said.

Out of form Cool Phelan (Pegasus Spur) which hasn’t won since December gets a chance to get form on the board in Race Two.

“She hasn’t been going too bad. They ran home in 58 the other day and that was in a better grade. We weren’t going to line her up but when they split the fields I thought we’d put her in because it’s more her class.”

Starting in Race Three, Hunting Weight (Stunin Cullen) is in a good space at the moment and finishing off her races well. She’ll be driven by Brent Barclay and at three, gets a nice draw to work with.

“She had a heart fibrillation two starts ago. The team’s full of colds at the moment and they (vets) reckon that’s what triggered it. She seems to be getting better and better and I’m quite happy with her.”

McLean (Sportswriter) didn’t get a run to suit at Invercargill last week and ran into a bit of trouble. He should be able to get a sit close to the pace from gate five in Race Four.

“He did a bit of work and it told. He’s better with one crack at them.”

Well bred trotter Rewi Hill (Muscle Hill) has been disappointing this time in. He appears not to be finishing off his races. He gets his chance to redeem in Race Eight.

“The other day a horse stopped in front of him but he couldn’t come off his back. He’s a funny bugger round Invercargill and he doesn’t steer that well. He’s got a lot to learn the big fella. He’s definitely better on the bigger tracks but in saying that he’s racing against some class animals.”

Gray’s other runner in Race Eight is the pacing bred Janaka’s Delight (Bettor’s Delight). Her form has been patchy but she hasn’t had too much luck in her races.

“If she gallops she doesn’t get any money. Ollie (driver Ollie Kite) said she was travelling good the other day, but it got a bit tight and she galloped. Just put a line through her last start.”

Race One gets underway at 12.09pm and all races will screen on Trackside 2.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink