By Jonny Turner
Big performances at the Hannon Memorial meeting have two favourites from Brett Gray’s stable ready to strike at Wyndham on Thursday.
Gray lines up four runners at Young Quinn Raceway with each of the quartet looking a genuine winning threat.
The Gray team is headed by classy trotting mare Peregrine who drops perfectly in a rating 35-65 trot with her 64 rating.
Stable junior driver Tristan Larsen to take the reins in what looks a very winnable race.
“It was a pretty good run at Oamaru, she got home nice enough.”
“Her work has been good and I have been happy with her.”
“Being off 25m won’t be easy but it does look a winnable race for her.”
“Tristan is driving her for the first time, hopefully he gets on good with her.”
“He has been driving well lately and that is reflected in the drives he has been getting.”
The Gray trained Xlendi made a sustained run in a meritorious debut second at the Hannon Memorial meeting.
On that performance, the four-year-old should prove hard to beat in race 4.
But given the horse’s progress since that run, Gray is expecting to see even more from his pacer.
“It was a pretty good run at Oamaru, I didn’t realise how wide he had to come until I saw the replay.”
“He had to make a long run and he did well.”
“He seems to have come on with that run and the trip away.”
“I’d like to hope he is a bit of a good thing on Thursday, fingers crossed.”
Cool Phelan wasn’t able to produce her best at the Hannon meeting, producing a fair sixth.
But the mare’s prior form was strong and her trainer is hoping to see something more like that today.
“She didn’t handle the trip that well and had a bit of a shake and ran her race before she went out onto the track.”
“Her runs down here have been good and she has won at Wyndham, so hopefully she can show her best on Thursday.”
Brent Barclay drives both Xlendi and Cool Phelan.
Swedish Starlet didn’t head to Oamaru but she has been producing great form in Southland recently.
From barrier 3 in race 7, another bold effort looks to be on the cards.
“She has been going great races, she has another good draw and hopefully she can be finishing off well again.”
Gray and Larsen combine again with Swedish Starlet.
