Entriviere demolition a consolation for Gray

Media Release - Monday March 8

Kevin Gray didn’t train the winner of the Gr.3 King’s Plate (1200m) at Ellerslie on Sunday, but he still took some comfort from the result, having bred race victor Entriviere.

Entriviere winning the Gr.3 King’s Plate (1200m) at Ellerslie on Sunday. Photo: Trish Dunell

For the second time in the space of a couple of months, the Gray-trained Rock ‘N’ Affair has ventured to the Auckland track and clashed with Entriviere, coming off on the worse side of the ledger on both occasions.

Having finished fourth to the lightly-tried daughter of Tavistock in the Gr.3 Concorde Handicap (1200m) in January, Rock ‘N’ Affair finished ninth, beaten just over six lengths on Sunday, behind the Jamie Richards-trained runner which is quickly forging a reputation as one of New Zealand’s most exciting gallopers.

While Gray wasn’t able to get his hands on the silverware on Sunday, he was pleased for Richards and the Te Akau team.

“It was quite a good thrill, even though she beat my own horse,” Gray quipped.

“The wet track didn’t help me, but I am pleased that Entriviere has done well for Te Akau because we can’t do without them at the moment, a lot of us trainers don’t have that money to pay for horses.”

Gray bred Entriviere in partnership with his wife Kathleen, however, the mating was selected by a client of his son, Singapore trainer Stephen Gray, who leased the dam, Marcey’s Belt.

“I leased the mare to Stephen for a client in Singapore and he put her to Tavistock, who I would have gone to myself,” Gray said.

“The guy who leased the mare died while the mare was carrying the foal. I had other horses around here, so we sold her.

Advertisement

“Te Akau bought her, and they have just let her have time. I am pleased they have got her, she is getting every opportunity with them and now she is a multiple Group Three winner with plenty of upside. 

“All of the family can run, that’s the best thing about it.

“I have still got the mother of Entriviere here and two half-sisters, both by Burgundy.”

While pleased with the result and its enhancement of a number of his mares’ pedigree pages, the Octogenarian horseman said he is starting to wind down his breeding operation.

“Because of my age I am going to sell some of my mares because I have got enough to race with two and three-year-olds here,” Gray said.

However, with the deeds of Entriviere on the track, her dam Marcey’s Belt may stay in Gray’s ownership for a little while longer.

“It’s (Entriviere’s win) a great help for the family,” Gray said. “I might keep the mare, but if someone came along and wanted to buy her then I would consider it. She is a beautiful mare.” – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Satono’s Stunning Stats Continue as Rich Hill Sires Shine
Rich Hill Stud’s Group 1 stallion roster was the dominant force at Te Rapa’s premier meeting with their progeny claiming a feature race double.
‘Petrol in the Tank’ – Why Buying Mares from Godolphin is a Good Idea
From the point of view of the bloodstock world, Beiwacht was the most significant winner from last weekend with his Group I Golden Rose victory propelling his sire Bivouac to the top of the second season sires list, but it wasn’t just Godolphin cheering him home with a number of other Aussie breeders now invested in his family.
Evaporate Caps Off Great Week for Per Incanto
Evaporate crowned a stellar period for his sire across the Tasman when he produced a gallant performance to land the thick end of the stake in Saturday’s Gr.3 Sandown Stakes (1500m).
30 Runners in Goffs Million!
The stage is set for Europe’s richest two-year-old race, the Goffs Million (7f), which has attracted a maximum field of 30 runners at the Curragh this Saturday and the €1 million contest, with prize money down to 10th, is only open to graduates of last year’s Goffs Orby Sale.
My Wish on Track for G1 HK International Mile
The Mark Newnham trained Flying Artie gelding My Wish was crowned Most Improved Horse at the annual awards night in Hong Kong at the end of last season and has wasted no time confirming that potential with a dazzling first up win in the Group III Celebration Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Jenni The Pride of Trelawney
Comeback mare Pride Of Jenni has given Trelawney Stud a number of reasons to look forward to the spring after a dashing victory in the Gr.2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) on Friday night.
Manhattan Rain Gold Rush in WA
Geisel Park won’t be the only WA breeder on board when the first locally-conceived 2yo crop of its Group 1 sire Manhattan Rain get mobile this season.
Sires With Winners - Saturday September 27
Here is the full list of 106 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Kiwi Stayer Chasing Melbourne Cup Golden Ticket
Wolfgang, who races as Mister Wolfgang in Australia, will get his first opportunity to earn a golden ticket into the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) when he heads to Flemington on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Friday September 26
Here is the full list of 60 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.