3 minute read
In handicap events it is all about the weights. And trainer Stephen Gray thinks both Kharisma and Silent Is Gold are perfectly placed to run big races for his stable in the $100,000 Class 1 race over 1400m on Sunday.
With the Tim Fitzsimmons-trained Golden Monkey heading the weights with 59kgs, Kharisma gets in with 54kgs off his rating of 90, while last start winner Silent Is Gold has been allocated just 52.5kgs.
However, in an effort to maximize his weight advantage on Silent Is Gold , Gray has booked three-kilo claimer Jamil Sawri to ride, so the five-year-old will head to the 1400m start with only 49.5kgs on his back.
Significant given his last start win was in this same company (Class 1 race over 1200m on 11 November) where he carried 51kgs, and the son of Star Turn also boasts a win over seven furlongs (Class 3 on 29 April) on his growing resume.
"I think the claim (three kilos) is significant," said the affable Kiwi conditioner.
"He won last start over 1200m in this company and with (trainer) Donna's (Logan) boy riding, he (Silent Is Gold) carries less weight on Sunday.
"Jamil is riding well too. And we had an apprentice on (Fahmi Rosman) the last time he won over 1400m, so we know he can win over the trip and in this company. So he definitely ticks a few boxes.
"In handicaps you need every advantage you can get and I think we get one with the claim. He should run well."
No need for a claim for Kharisma – whose last win was in the Group 3 Rocket Man Sprint at handicap conditions over 1200m on 6 August – with popular jockey Matthew Kellady to ride the seven-year-old son of Mossman.
"I thought he (Kharisma) was unlucky last start," said Gray of the sixth placed finish behind Silent Is Gold on 11 November.
"He got stuck on the fence at the wrong time and (jockey) Ronnie (Stewart) said if he gets out he probably wins or runs second. So he's in good form in handicap races.
"In saying that, he has never won over 1400m, so that is a query. But Matty rode him in the trial last week (finished second in trial no 1 on 5 December to Silent Is Gold) and he was strong to the wire.
"We will ride him quieter this time and he's where he needs to be in the handicaps. So I think he would be as good as chance as any in this field.
While Gray was not keen to split the two on their respective winning chances on Sunday, he was happy to wax lyrical about what his two highest rated gallopers have meant to his stable in recent troubled times.
"Look, Kharisma kept us going through tough Covid (19) times," explained the multiple Group 1 winning trainer.
"And when he (Kharisma) was at his best, he probably rated himself out of the good handicap races like the (Group 2) EW Barker Trophy (1400m). I'm glad he won the Rocket Man Sprint – he deserved that – but at the end of the day, he is a handicapper.
"Silent Is Gold is very honest and also smart, which is a good combination. He's younger too, so has some upside, but he's a handicapper too. So we just have to run them both when we can.
"They both pick up cheques regularly. If we get a good gate and a bit of luck on Sunday, hopefully one gets the winning cheque."
Gray has seven other horses nominated for this Sunday's meeting and thinks a Class dropper in Hugo will go well in the $30,000 Class 5 race over 1100m, as will Laksana in the $30,000 Class 5 Division 1 race over 1600m.
"Hugo has never been in Class 5 before so he should improve," said Gray of the eight-year-old by Smart Missile.
"(Jockey) Marc (Lerner) knows him well and the race suits, so he (Hugo) has to be a chance.
"Laksana (x Wandjina) looks ready too. He dropped to Class 5 two starts back and this race looks suitable. Marc will ride him too, and I would expect him to figure."
