Gray team ready for Winter Rewards Finals

One More Moment (Majestic Son) heads the harness racing team Brett Gray has qualified for Thursday’s Winter Racing Series Finals at Wyndham.

Gray lines up eight horses at the Forbury Park meeting with six to start in the $20,000 Winter Racing Series events.

After bursting out of maidens and completing a hat-trick of wins, One More Moment looks the horse to beat in the Winter Rewards Handicap Trot.

“She is definitely our best chance, she is superior to the rest of ours,” the trainer said.

“In her first couple of starts she went out favourite and I think she was just a little bit nervy and she trotted a bit roughly.”

“We put the pacifiers on her and I think that has made a big difference.”

“They have just settled her down a wee bit and she has got her better and better with each run.”

Though she is yet to be tested in the higher classes, Gray has a decent opinion of the trotter.

“It is probably a little bit easier at this time of year, but if she keeps on improving the way she has been it will help.”

“She has just started steering good, in those first few starts she hung and did things wrong.”

“But Blair (Orange) said she actually steered really good in her last start.”

“With a bit more time you would think she would keep improving.”

Before Thursday’s races even get underway, Gray has completed a decent feat by qualifying four horses for the Winter Rewards Handicap Trot.

“It is good, we have probably kept a few in a bit longer with the RATTO races coming up.”

“But it has been a good initiative to keep the numbers up through the winter.”

“It is good to see there are a few positive things on the horizon for harness racing.”

One More Moment’s owners Kenny and Jo Baynes also sponsor Thursday’s trot.

Kenny Baynes also shares in the ownership of Afterburner (The Best Madrik) who is among the Gray trained team in the race, alongside Allaboutthemoment (Peak) and Dem Bones Dem Bones (Monkey Bones).

Afterburner has been freshened and has been stationed at Jo Baynes’ stable ahead of his assignment.

“Afterburner has just had a bit of a freshen up and gone back to Jo’s.”

“We were a bit disappointed with his last start but quite often he goes good fresh.”

“He’s off 10m so he is not too badly off.”

“He is one that has got to have one crack at them.”

“Allaboutthemoment has more of an all-around game, she probably lacks a bit of speed but she is a stayer and she just keeps going.”

“She probably won’t like the bigger field because she can get a little bit field shy.”

“Dem Bones Dem Bones is off the front, she could do it but she needs good weather.”

“If she gets buried away she has got a good little sprint on her but the wet tracks take the speed out of her bit.”

Gray also lines up The Mighty Mondo (He’s Watching) and Swedish Starlet (Mach Three) in Thursday’s rating 35-42 Winter Rewards Final.

“I have got a bit of a soft spot for The Mighty Mondo.”

“I thought it was a big run last week.”

“He got caught up in a bit of a skirmish and it cost him a few lengths and he still ran on.”

“He is probably the smoky for the day from our team.”

McLean (Sportswriter) in race 2 looks the biggest winning threat of the Gray runners in the regular races on Thursday.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Jonny Turner, for Harness Racing New Zealand