Ryal Bush trainer Brett Gray experienced the good, the bad and the indifferent at the Winton workouts last week.
But he hopes the trip to the workouts has stood all three of his runners in good stead for the first Southland harness racing meeting of the season at Gore tomorrow.
Gray lines up Thunda Down Unda (race 5), T C Business (race 6) and Jaccka Spirit (Race 9).
Thunda Down Unda provided him with the best outcome at the workouts.
The Merv and Meg Butterworth-owned 4yr-old was second to Pocket Caesar over 2400m last week, but the most pleasing aspect for Gray was the gelding’s tractability, as he made ground on a last 800m of 56sec.
"He was back a bit and found the line quite nice," Gray said.
"He’s still a bit fat and will need the run. He’s very capable, but he can beat himself, too."
The Butterworths paid $A155,000 ($NZ162,400) for the son of Rock N Roll Heaven at the 2014 Australian Pacing Gold Sydney sales, and sent him originally to the All Stars Stables at Rolleston before Mark Purdon sent him south to Gray.
"The ability’s there — he’s got a few tricks up his sleeve," Gray said.
"He’s had a bit of a gait thing, but we’re working on that. If he puts it all together he can go pretty close but I just don’t know with him."
Drawn 13, Thunda Down Unda will start from the second line, which could suit him as he keeps learning after two unplaced starts in June.
"I think it’s not a bad thing. Between me and Nathan [Williamson, driver], we just thought he might have got a wee bit panicky early in his races and overraced so we’re just hoping that will curb that."
T C Business was unplaced in a five-horse field at the workouts, which left Gray "a little disappointed".
"I thought he should have gone a wee bit better, but he pulled a bit hard in his run," he said.
"He’s just been getting a wee bit keen, but hopefully I can rectify that.
"I hope he just goes around and runs home OK."
The indifferent horse at the trials was Jaccka Spirit, who galloped in the score-up of a 2400m mobile pace heat.
"He’s working really good and he felt pretty good, so we’re not too worried about that. The gate was just going a bit slow for him."
"He’s a tough bugger and I’m expecting him to be a bit further forward and be the best of our three."
Gray generally works about 15 horses during the season and is looking forward to the return of Jen Jaccka from owner-breeders Charlie and Ailsa Smaill.
"She’s a quality trotter and if her wheels hold up OK, we should have a good later part of the season."
