CHEVALIER'S SWITCH FOR HOME TRACK HAT-TRICK
The Hawkesbury trainer had initially considered giving the lightly-raced four-year-old the chance to make his mark in town at Royal Randwick’s Big Dance meeting next Tuesday in a Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1800m).
Instead he is keeping He’s Got Grunt at the provincials for the time being, and will saddle him for tomorrow’s St Johns Park Bowling Club Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap at the same distance.
“You have to keep your options open at all times,” Chevalier said this morning.
“This race tomorrow looks an easier assignment, and it’s at his home track where he is racing so well.
“I also wanted to keep Tyler Schiller on him, and wasn’t sure if he would be riding at Randwick next Tuesday.
“He’s Got Grunt can still go to town toward the end of next month for a 2000m Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap at Rosehill Gardens.
“The only way I would go back to my original plan is if we got plenty of rain and Hawkesbury became heavy tomorrow.”
Chevalier is no stranger to He’s Got Grunt, whom he pre-trained on a couple of occasions before being asked to train him earlier this year.
He hit a bullseye first-up with the son of dual Group 1 winner Grunt by winning a 3YO Maiden Handicap (1400m) at Hawkesbury on June 23 when a $21 chance.
After a short break, He’s Got Grunt was placed in a Hawkesbury 1000m trial on August 24 before finishing fourth to Green Winter in a Provincial Class 1 Handicap (1400m) at Kembla Grange on September 12.
Back at home on October 8, he struck winning form again in a Midway Class 1 Handicap (1600m).
“He’s Got Grunt was off the bridle at the 600m, but was bumped by another horse and that got him going,” Chevalier said.
“I don’t have a problem about him going to 1800m.
“In fact Tyler (who has ridden him in the two Hawkesbury wins) feels he is looking for 2000m now.”
Chevalier says He’s Got Grunt isn’t a flash trackworker, but seemingly switches on come raceday.
“He’s got lazier on the track, but is in really good order,” he said.
“I’m sure he will run well again tomorrow.”
He’s Got Grunt races in the Blueblood Thoroughbreds red, blue and white colours, and Chevalier is building a strong association with the syndicator.
His other Hawkesbury representative tomorrow is another Blueblood horse, Navy Slippers (Schiller) in the A Little Connection Goes A Long Way Provincial Maiden Plate (1500m).
Another to be transferred to Chevalier, the Merchant Navy four-year-old ran second in a Hawkesbury Provincial Maiden Handicap (1500m) on September 10 before failing at Newcastle in similar grade on October 6.
But there may have been a plausible excuse as she scraped her near side knee in the float during the trip north, though was passed suitable to race after a pre-race vet examination.
“I had to trial Navy Slippers again (at Hawkesbury on October 20),” Chevalier said.
“I gave her an easy trial, and Tyler (Schiller) said her action was fine.”
He’s Got Grunt was a $4.40 second favorite with TAB.com.au this morning behind last start narrow Hawkesbury second Malbork Castle (Zac Lloyd) at $3.70, whilst Navy Slipper was quoted at $8.
Chevalier now has five horses in work for Blueblood Thoroughbreds, and will have another two runners – Grunge and Harrythewiz – for them at Thursday’s Wyong meeting.. Hawkesbury was rated a ‘Soft 5” at 8.45am today. The rail is out 5m from the 1100m to 450m, and is in the TRUE position for the remainder of the circuit.
Only 1.5mm of rain was recorded in the previous 24 hours to that time, but a total of 22mm in the last seven days.
No irrigation was put on the track in the previous 24 hours, though 6mm in the last seven days.
