WELLINGTON - Waverley trainer Kevin Gray feels he has the bases covered with his runners Miss Jessie Jay and Guinness Affair in the $40,000 Fayette Park Stakes at Hawera today.
Gray has a high opinion of last season's Warstep Stakes winner Miss Jessie Jay and expects her to be tough to bowl if the track conditions remained easy.
If the ground deteriorated, Gray believed Guinness Affair could provide a minor upset.
Guinness Affair has won two of her three starts in heavy ground and was unlucky last start when denied a run in the straight behind Sir Howard at Hastings on September 30.
Carl Montague is likely to ride Guinness Affair.
Gray has been pleased by Miss Jessie Jay's recent work and expects her to improve considerably from her sixth placing behind Sir Howard.
"She's a lovely mare and hopefully we can use the draw (two) to our advantage," Gray said.
"Looking at the field, other than Tall Poppy there isn't a whole heap of class in the race."
Pompeii Court mare Saint Cecile will be one of the better supported runners after her impressive win in the Mason Appliances at New Plymouth on September 23.
However, the last time Saint Cecile and Miss Jessie Jay clashed the latter had the edge in the Warstep Stakes.
"If I had a concern she may just need one more run, but I don't line them up unless they are a show and she is in that category," Gray said.
Stable apprentice Jason Symes rode Miss Jessie Jay at Hastings but he has been released to ride Cambridge galloper Hello Dolly, who he has ridden to victory in her last two starts.
Gray has a realistic chance of picking up the TAB double, with promising stayer Strauss' Delight looking the winner of the $20,000 Lowe Walker Egmont Cup (2300m).
Strauss' Delight, who dead-heated with Jaybejay last start, is aimed at the New Zealand Cup at Riccarton on November 18.
Racing: Gray entries should cover all bases in Fayette
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