By Jonny Turner
Brett Gray brings a bumper team to Winton on Saturday with three of his trotters out to secure a special victory.
Gray starts nine horses on a nine-race card with three of his team to step out in the race named in honour of his late father Murray.
Jasmine Jaccka, Afterburner and Allaboutthemoment each start in race 1, the Murray Gray Memorial Trot.
Bookmakers are suggesting Allaboutthemoment is the stable’s best hope, opening the mare as the race’s third favourite.
However Gray thinks Afterburner shouldn’t be underrated.
“I do like Afterburner a bit, Allaboutthemoment is going good but she is still on the way up.”
“It is just her second run back.”
“When he gets it right, he goes good Afterburner, but you just don’t know if he is going to get it right.”
Jasmine Jaccka looks the roughie of the Gray trio going on her recent form.
Gray’s country cups performer Memphis Tennessee steps back in grade in race 7.
The pacer and junior driver Tristan Larsen have to contend with drawing the outside of the front row.
But Memphis Tennessee’s toughness should help him overcome it.
“He does look well placed and he should go pretty good.”
“He is starting to go a bit better than he was, I think we have got him nutted out but we will see how we go.”
Larsen and The Mighty Mondo has fared much better with his draw in barrier 2 in race 6.
After drawing 8, 14 and 12, the four-year-old looks perfectly placed from his inside draw.
“That is the best draw he has had for quite a while and I think he will go quite close (to winning).”
Jaccka Opa is another of the Gray team that gets an upgrade in draw in race 4.
The four-year-old has started from barrier 8 or barrier 13 in his four career starts.
Barrier 3 with Tristan Larsen in the sulky looks a luxury for the pacer.
“I think he should be one of the favourites.”
“If he could get a bit of luck or dictate, he is quite a tough little bugger.”
Hunting Weight starts second up for Gray and driver Nathan Williamson who was in good form at Addington last night.
On the back of a tidy first up second the mare looks a genuine eachway threat.
“She is starting to behave herself a bit better, she is still on the green side though.”
“But she is getting there.”
Gray also starts the consistent Hey Miki Denario in race 2, as well as Meohmymartini in race 9.
Both pacers look top 4 hopes.
