By Neil Evans
A locally trained three-year-old which has had to play second fiddle in three of his opening four starts is primed to break through at Thursday’s feature Hawkesbury meeting.
The Grey, a striking gelding by prolific spint sire Deep Field in the leading stable of Brad Widdup, tackles a Provincial Maiden Plate over 1100m second-up.
Trainer Brad Widdup.Credit: Getty
Named with a touch of irony, given he is officially chestnut and grey-coloured, The Grey failed to pull off a strong betting move when resuming here 16 days ago.
Backed from a high of $5.50 into $4.20, The Grey tracked the speed in a handy Super Maiden before taking over on the point of the turn, but couldn’t sustain the run home, beaten just over two lengths behind the promising Apex.
But fitter now, and having worked stylishly since, he’s ready to break through at his fifth start, and potentially take aim at a midweek metropolitan race.
The Grey opened around $2.80 in early betting just in front of Newcastle-based Aged Care ($3) which lines up for only his fourth start, six weeks since disappointing fresh at home in a Super Maiden.
Certainly, connections of The Grey won’t be too concerned if the forecast showers and likely thunderstorms arrive before jump time.
Bred to thrive on rain-affected ground, he showed his versatility by running home hard into a close second on a heavy 8 surface at Hawkesbury in mid-July and he’s also trialled well in soft-rated going.
Meanwhile, the meeting also looms as an early career D-Day for emerging four-year-old Cassiel which tackles a Benchmark 64 Handicap for the boys over 1100m third-up.
Based in the Peter Snowden yard at Randwick, Cassiel has had little or no luck in two placed runs back from a lengthy spell, a good thing denied when charging home late via a chequered run first-up at Kembla before again finishing close-up at the same track 23 days ago.
A little freshen-up and drop back 100m in distance can pay dividends for this talented son of US sprint sire Harry Angel, although he’ll have to get past one of the more progressive sprinters in work.
Don’t Doubt Merlin, a four-year-old by Press Statement and trained by David Pfieffer at Warwick Farm, has comfortably won two straight this prep up to BM 64 level, and three from four overall.
And with all three of those wins coming on soft ground, Don’t Doubt Merlin opened an early $3 favorite, with Cassiel on the next line at $3.80.
Supplied by Racing NSW
