Gray nonchalant about PB

Tim Williams.
Tim Williams.
If it happens, it happens.

That is the feeling trainer Brett Gray takes into tonight's Forbury Park meeting at which he has six chances at setting a personal-best for winners in a season.

Gray is not a trainer who gets caught up on stats and records, but is instead more concerned about having horses going as well as possible

The horseman set a personal record of 26 wins last season and equalled that tally this term when Mighty Flying Deal won at upset odds on the course last week.

The horse's 30-1 price might have shocked punters, but the win did not come as a total surprise to his trainer.

''To be fair, it was quite a good drop back and they went hard and that suited him.''

Gray thinks Mighty Flying Deal and driver Nathan Williamson can repeat that dose in race 11 tonight, if the race tempo goes his way again.

''I don't think the field is very much different to last week.

''If they go hard again and he gets a good run he will be a chance again.''

Gray will call on a Jewels-winning reinsman to drive two of his runners tonight, including Jen Jaccka whom he rates his best chance.

Although Gray gives Southlanders Brent Barclay and Nathan Williamson many of his stable drives, he is lucky be able to call on the classy Tim Williams with whom he is also good mates to substitute when they are not available, he said.

As with many squaregaiters, Williams first job will be to try to get Jen Jaccka away cleanly in tonight's final event.

''She is a tricky horse to get away and she is not the best around the 1000m tracks but she has been going really well,'' Gray said

''She is a horse with a lot of ability and probably my best chance if she does things right.''

Williams will also pilot Jaccka Corrin, whom Gray rates as a place chance in race 8.

The trainer calls on leading reinsman Blair Orange to try to reward the punters who keep following Son Of Brahma in race 10.

The horse has gone out either favourite or second favourite in his past two starts and has not got close to rewarding win punters.

Son Of Brahma was seen hitting the line strongly into third in his best placing in his past four starts and Gray is hoping the horse can finally reward his backers.

''He will probably go all right when the punters leave him alone,'' Gray quipped.

''He is a funny horse, but he can run. He is very hard horse to drive.

Junior driver Matt Anderson partners Gray's two other runners tonight.

The trainer is hopeful of a good run from Machjagger in race 4, especially if she can find the front from her handy four barrier draw.

''She is a great front runner and she is a chance in that field.''

Gray and Anderson also combine with Duchess Grace, who ran into third on the track last week behind Lord Roydon.

''I thought she was quite good last start. She just hung in around the last bend which cost her, but she is a chance of getting money again.''

-By Jonny Turner

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