Michael Heaton | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Dual-code horseman Michael Grantham is confident Miss Boudica can land her second Group success in Friday night’s $50,000 Group 2 TABradio APG Series 30 4YO Consolation Final (1730m) at Gloucester Park.
Trained by Michael Brennan, the Mach Three mare won last year’s three-year-old edition of the same race and hit the line strongly to run second to Newsletter on May 13 before being held up for clear running behind Vivere Damore last time out.
Grantham is expecting a change of fortune jumping from barrier two on Friday night.
“She’s been going really well of late,” he said.
“The draw is perfect as well, so we’ll be all guns blazing at the start and hopefully they’ll be chasing me.
“I think I’ll be able to cross and Lady Jadore might sit on us as well, but it depends on how forward their horse is.
“If not, I think my horse is good enough to sit outside of it.”
Grantham feels Colin Brown’s American Ideal mare American Arma, a winner at her past two starts, looks the toughest to beat.
“She’s going really well,” he said.
“She’s obviously going to get the camp on us – I don’t think Browny will send her forward.
“Whatever we use early is what it’ll have up its sleeve late.”
Grantham looks set for a good night with his other drives – Jack Farthing, Valbonne and Loucid Dreams – also rating highly.
The Justin Prentice-trained Jack Farthing will jump from barrier one for the first time in eight starts when he contests The Sports Daily On TABradio Pace (2536m).
“I reckon he’ll lead and win,” Grantham said.
“I think he’ll benefit from his last run and they would’ve put a bit more work into him.
“I reckon he won’t have to do much early and he should be able to jog around.
“I don’t think anything will run over the top of him in that race.”
Lisa Walton’s Valbonne, an ultra-consistent son of Mach Three, has again drawn awkwardly when coming up with gate seven in The Aftermath On TABradio Pace (2130m).
The six-year-old gelding has finished in the first four placings at 12 of his past 13 starts and Grantham feels he’s knocking on the door for a deserved win.
“He’s ready to pounce but the draw doesn’t suit,” he said.
“The horse is flying and as soon as he draws he’ll be hard to beat.
“Lisa gave him a freshen up and brought him back into work hoping he’d draw well, but he hasn’t.”
Grantham will also take his first drive behind Loucid Dreams in The Tim Walker 3YO Pace (2536m).
The Colin Brown-trained gelding has finished in the money at six of his eight career starts to date and has drawn the pole position for the first time.
“He’s come up with the prize draw and has been going well,” Grantham said.
“He’s been coming out of Swingband’s races so with a soft run I think he’ll be a top-three player.
“Jack Farthing will probably be short so if you take him out of the equation, I think Miss Boudica is my best of the night.”
Meanwhile, trainer Annie Belton is expecting sharp improvement from Lady Jadore at her second run back from a spell in the Group 2 TABRadio APG Series 30 4YO Consolation Final.
The Tintin In America mare will jump from barrier one in the feature event after finishing fifth to Nevermindthechaos in an APG Gold Bullion Series heat on April 5 and being tuned up with a trial at Byford on May 15.
“I’m absolutely delighted with the draw,” Belton said.
“She’s a good front runner and she’s a lot better than what she was first-up.
“I think she wasn’t quite ready but I’m very happy with her going into this race and even more so with the draw.
“She’s up against very nice horses, no doubt, but I think if she gets to the front she’ll be hard to beat.”