My Scotsgrey Joins Kiwi Spring Squad

He’s the latest kiwi to earn a ticket for the Melbourne spring racing carnival and he’ll certainly be a hard horse to miss over the next couple of months.

My Scotsgrey is a striking stayer which has recently bounced back to form with a nice win over 2100m at Te Rapa on the weekend.

It was only his second run since making a return from a serious injury and gives connections a massive confidence boost ahead of his future campaign.

Before he was injured My Scotsgrey was a New Zealand Cup champion in 2009, winning the 3200m contest in tremendous fashion.

Given the quality of the field he disposed of last start there’s every indication he could be back to that level of performance and there are certainly no signs of any lingering issues from his injury.

The damage was sustained 17 months ago and for a while his entire career looked threatened with the tendon needing a long time to recover.

Now that’s out the way though trainer Shaune Ritchie has pinpointed My Scotsgrey as the perfect horse to accompany his other top liner Keep the Peace on an Australian tour.

The stayer has had just the 17 starts for five wins in his career but Ritchie isn’t getting carried away with his aspirations in Melbourne.
“He’s too slow for the Melbourne Cup,” Ritchie said.

“A race like the Bart Cummings at Flemington, a 2500m handicap, should suit him perfectly.”
All the reports are good after his weekend run and all going well he’ll join Keep The Peace on an Australian bound flight due to leave New Zealand on August 30.

His first test on Australian soil will be over 2000m on September 3rd at Flemington.

From there it could be a lengthy four week break before returning for the $200,000 Bart Cummings over 2500m on October 2nd at the same venue.

He’s a horse that already has experience racing in Melbourne, he crossed the Tasman as a three year old for a short two race prep.

He ran second in the 2008 Geelong Classic before moving on to the Group 1 Victoria Derby and finishing a credible seventh.

He’s noted for a nice turn of foot, something which was on show on Saturday when he quickly reeled in a three length margin which had been opened up by Cent Per Cent inside the final two furlongs.

It could be a nice little duo for Ritchie with Keep The Peace also a proven Group 1 champion.

She picked up her maiden top rung race in New Zealand last season, a race where she got the better of the well renowned Wall Street.

She is being set for a first up test on the same card as My Scotsgrey, running in the $200,000 Let’s Elope Stakes over 1400m.

She was originally considered a Cox Plate prospect but Ritchie is once again electing to aim a little lower.

“Keep The Peace has been nominated for the Cox Plate but she won’t be running because she’s not good enough,” he said.

“There are plenty of suitable races for her in Melbourne, without having to look at Cox Plate level.”

The make-up part of an ever increasing New Zealand contingent for the Melbourne spring carnival which also includes the likes of Scarlett Lady, Dowager Queen and Jimmy Choux.

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