Flemington race an option for Daytona Grey

Daytona Grey could be given a second chance at straight racing with trainer Leon Macdonald considering whether to run him in the final heat of the All Victorian Sprint Series to qualify him for the final.

Macdonald, who trains in Adelaide in partnership with Andrew Gluyas, won the series final in 2014 with Nearest To Pin.

As well as the 1100m heat on Saturday, Daytona Grey has been entered for a 1050m-race at Morphettville which Macdonald said probably appeared the easier option.

“I’m not really sure at this stage,” Macdonald said.

“I don’t know whether the straight is his perfect go. I think in the past his best runs (in Melbourne) have been at Moonee Valley.”

“I’ll just have a look at the fields when the weights are out and what looks like accepting and go from there.

The 33 entries for the Flemington race are headed by General Truce who gave comeback trainer Tony Vasil victory last Saturday week and former NSW sprinter Alberto Magic who finished third in the same event.

Daytona Grey won at Moonee Valley as a three-year-old while his only start at Flemington was when fifth in the corresponding race to Saturday’s sprint two years ago.

“He’s going fine. He’s a good, average horse but he’s no superstar,” Macdonald said.

“He’s paid the price of being consistent. He gets a fair bit of weight wherever he goes.”

The six-year-old’s 11 wins from 45 starts include stakes victories in the Group Three R N Irwin Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville last year and the Listed Manihi Classic (1100m) at the same track in April.

He finished fifth of eight in his most recent start over 1250m on the Morphettville Parks circuit last Saturday week.

“The 1250 metre race was on the inner track and he drew an ordinary barrier,” Macdonald said.

“He got a fair way back. He carried 60 kilos and just had a bit of trouble making up the ground.”

 

Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au

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