Perfect three for the Grays at Awapuni

[Wandering Eyes]

As Stephen Gray’s first season back on home soil nears a close, the Palmerston North trainer was rapt to add three more wins to the stable’s tally on the Awapuni Synthetic on Thursday.

Formerly training in Singapore, Gray joined his father, Kevin Gray, in partnership this term and the pair have swiftly gained momentum, collecting 21 victories prior to the all-weather meeting.

Their first representative, the striking Cosentino (NZ) (El Roca), was backed into $2.10 favouritism in a competitive Tomo’s Aluminium Services 1000 after trading blows with Platinum Designs (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) in their last two encounters. In the hands of in-form hoop Bruno Queiroz, Cosentino pressed forward from an inside draw, before briefly taking a sit turning for home.

Finding the run on the rail, Cosentino burst through and put a margin on his rivals, cruising to the line by 3 – ½ lengths to Ka Ying Lucky (Zoustar) and Platinum Designs.

Drawing on his experience with the synthetic surface in Singapore, Gray has found the perfect formula for the impressive son of El Roca.

“He just keeps improving, he’s a very quick horse and has always shown speed,” he said.

“From my experience in Singapore with poly racing, if they have that speed and get to like it, they appreciate the short straights. He’s a horse like that, and I’m sure he’ll be the same once he gets on the grass.

“I’m not an advocate of running horses on the heavy tracks at this time of the year, so while the poly racing is here, we may as well take advantage of it.”

Gray is considering both of the sprint-distance Polytrack Championship races in a fortnight, but is leaning towards his local meeting on the 3^rd of August, where the feature is run over 1400m.

“We may be able to into one of those $100,000 races now, there is a 1400m race which is close to home, being only 10 minutes into town,” he said. “There is the risk of the 1400, but the owners are good people, and I think they’ll be happy to run here.

“If we’re not happy, we could always nominate for the 1200 and send him down to Christchurch, but he’s only a young horse so we’d prefer to run the risk and stay up here, then he can have a break before the spring.”

The stable doubled up immediately in the following event, but not with the horse that punters may have anticipated.

After winning on debut last start, Exaggeration (NZ) (Embellish) closed at a similar quote to Cosentino in the Central ITM 1400, but it was his stablemate, Tears Of Victory (NZ) (U S Navy Flag), who dictated terms throughout and had enough to hold on, defeating a game Exaggeration by a neck.

“It was a lovely ride by Toni (Davies, jockey of Tears Of Victory), Dad’s horse (Exaggeration) probably could’ve won too but this mare did a good job and she’s racing well,” Gray said.

“Exaggeration is a lovely horse, he just got held up a bit behind, but that’s a good result, because he’ll learn a lot and we’ve got a big opinion of him.

“He’ll be a very good horse on the grass tracks.”

The daughter of U S Navy Flag had also been a winner at her most recent start, having joined the stable after winning two races in the care of Stephen Autridge.

“She came in great order from Stephen, he’s a good mate of mine and it’s a bit easier down here for her,” Gray said. “It was the idea to get a portfolio up with a few more wins before she goes to stud, so it’s working well.

“It was a good result for Tim Harrison (owner), who is a great breeder and a good contributor to racing.

“She could go to the $100,000 race as well.”

In the last, Our Akashinga (Exceedance) was also a well-backed favourite and she delivered on that in spades, powering away from her rivals to score by 3 – ½ lengths.

“She is a very good filly, she’ll go right through the grades,” Gray said. “She’s going to be a nice four-year-old Cups mare eventually, I’ve got a lot of time for her.

“She’s Australian-owned and they’ll have a lot of fun with her in the spring, she’s a beautiful horse.”

Gray set a target of around the 20-win mark for the season, and Thursday’s treble brought the stable’s tally up to 24.

“I’m really happy with the season, my plan was to train 20-odd winners this year with what we started off with, so it’s going really well,” he said.

“I’ve got good staff, Dad’s support around us with the property, and we’ve got some lovely horses to come in for the spring. “I’m more than happy and excited for what’s to come, it’s been really enjoyable.”

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