SHE’S lit up tracks right across the region, now the Central West’s ‘Grey Caviar’ is set to grace Towac Park.
Castlereagh Grey, the Bruce Parker-trained mare that’s captured the imagination of the region after winning its first three starts, will run in Racing Orange’s TAB meeting on Monday, drawing barrier three in the Polpure Pty Ltd Benchmark 65 Handicap.
Since going three for three to start her career, the six-year-old grey came fourth at Tamworth on February 1 before bouncing back with her fourth win in five starts with victory at Dubbo.
Parker was confident Castlereagh Grey would make it five wins in six starts at Orange when she tackles the 1000 metres in race eight on Monday, continuing what has become one of the racing stories of the season to date.
“I don’t know a lot about the Sydney horses (in the race), but the first three, they all go pretty well,” Parker said, referring to the three horses drawn in barriers one, two and three, Dunderry, Red Ensign and Castlereagh Grey respectively.
“As long as they don’t battle it out at the front early, I’m pretty confident she’ll win.
“She’s won over 1000 metres before. She won her first race over 1000 by five lengths and won a barrier trial over the same distance by four-and-a-half lengths.
“I was hoping she drew well and she did.
“I’m pretty confident.”
Castlereagh Grey is just one horse in a bumper meeting expected at Towac Park following Tuesday’s mammoth 207 nominations.
Following acceptances yesterday, Racing Orange has extended its program from seven races to nine, with the first jumping at 12.33pm.
Castlereagh Grey will be in action in race eight, set to jump at 4.55pm.
Race eight is the only race on the program without a full 14-horse field set to jump, but with horses trained by the likes of last year’s Gold Cup-winning trainer Mick Miladinovic, Canberra’s Con Karakatsanis and Max Crockett, Parker’s grey hope will be tested.
The Towac Park gates open at 12pm on Monday.
