The Murray name has been an institution at Kembla Grange, and one of the final pieces of the legacy of the late group 1-winning trainer Bede Murray will feature on Gong day when Espirito steps out this weekend.
Paul Murray has targeted the biggest day of racing on the South Coast with his sprinter. He regretted not putting him in The Warra but will settle for winning a benchmark 78 with the son of Bel Esprit.
Paul Murray has targeted The Gong meeting on Saturday.Credit:Getty
“He was one of the last matings dad organised before he died, and he came along after we lost him,” Murray said of Espirito. “Dad wouldn’t believe this day if he was still here. He always said you have to target the carnivals like Wagga and Grafton, and this is Kembla’s carnival really.
“It is bigger than Classic day, and it’s really a chance for us to show off with home track advantage, so when you have the right horse you plan to be here.”
Murray eyed Gong day with Espirito after his third win at Moruya in August, and he has put the writing on the wall with a couple of placings under big weights recently.
He meets Way To The Stars, which is favourite on Saturday, two kilograms better at the weights after being three-quarters of a length off him in third after a wide run at Warwick Farm last time out.
“I had the choice of four races with him on this day and I might have stuffed up by not putting him in The Warra because he is a very fast horse,” Murray said.
“We wanted to have him peaking for this day, and I think we have done that. He drops from 59 kilos to 55 and just needs a bit of luck to get across from the wide gate to be right in this race.
“I would like a bit of rain to get a bit of cut in the ground, but I think he run well whatever the track’s like.”
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