Gray makes long-awaited return to Riccarton
Palmerston North horseman Stephen Gray hasn’t been to Riccarton in more than 23 years, and he is hoping he can make a winning return this weekend.
The former Singapore trainer has been back in New Zealand for the last two years but has yet to venture south, but he will rectify that this weekend with two quality runners.
His charge will be led by Anderson Bridge (NZ) (Savabeel), who will be seeking to bounce back to form in the Avon City Ford Easter Cup (1600m).
The five-year-old son of Savabeel has won three of his five starts since returning to New Zealand from Australia late last year but he finished midfield last start when favourite in the Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m) at Trentham in March.
Gray, who trains in partnership with his father Kevin, has freshened Anderson Bridge ahead of his trip south where he will drop back to a mile in the Easter Cup.
“I kept ticking him over thinking I might take him to the Easter (Handicap, Gr.3) but I just felt it was a bit quick after his last run,” Gray said. “The weather has turned up alright so he might as well have one more race and then go out. A trip away will do him good.
“He was a fraction disappointing last start, but I just think he didn’t get the track, you had to be in front. We freshened him up and have come back to a mile.
“There is still some doubt as to whether he will stay, but he has done a good job so this will be his last run and we will put him out and get him in for the spring.”
Stablemate Toronto (Vancouver) has already had the one start at Riccarton, finishing runner-up over 1000m at the Christchurch track last Saturday.
“He has thrived,” Gray said. “Brian and Lesley Court have got a beautiful setup here and he is happy,” Gray said. “He went really well the other day, another 50m and he probably picks the other one up. He will run well.
“He has got a good win in him, he is a pretty nice animal. If things go well tomorrow, he could run again or we could back off and wait for the spring.”
Closer to home on Sunday, Gray will head to Tauherenikau with half a dozen runners, including three-year-old debutants Karryn (NZ) (Derryn) and Molly’s Belt (NZ) (Super Seth) in the The Farriers Bar And Eatery/Horseshoe Taproom (1000m).
“They both go quite well, it is a shame to run them together,” Gray said. “They both could have done with another trial but I felt it was a good track to kick them off in, it will be a good surface and soon it will be too wet.”
Gray is also looking forward to lining up Cambridge Stud three-year-old So We Go (NZ) (Embellish) in the Copthorne Solway Park & The Grill (1000m).
“He was a bit stiff the other day,” Gray said.
“He is quite a nice horse going forward. He will have this one and then he will go out. I think he will be a lovely four-year-old, he is bred to take time. He has got a lot of speed and ability, and he will be very hard to beat.”
