KEY POINTS:
A pool of $500,000 is on offer for the pick6 jackpot at Woodville today and Awapuni trainer Kevin Gray holds a strong hand.
He has eight horses entered for the traditional Woodville-Pahiatua New Year meeting of which six are spread over each leg of the pick6 on races four to nine.
Gray believes his best winning chance is lightly raced Stravinskys Affair in race six.
The Stravinsky three-year-old filly was run down by Cullever when second in a $30,000 race over 1400m for three-year-olds at Awapuni on December 22 at her last start.
She had won her two previous races in maiden and rating 70 company over 1200m and Gray said she would "burn" over the 1100m of tomorrow's rating 80 race from gate two.
"She's pretty quick," Gray said yesterday. "She's only a pony but she'll be around that corner at Woodville and going."
Two of Gray's runners are siblings Buckle Your Bet and Xtra Belt.
Buckle Your Belt, a five-year-old gelding by O'Reilly, contests the day's feature, the $30,000 Woodville-Pahiatua Cup (1600m).
He won at odds of nearly 60/1 in the $150,000 Rangitikei Sesqui Gold Cup Handicap (1600m) at Awapuni on April 25 last year and has had three starts this campaign.
He was beaten less than a length when fifth in the $50,000 North Island Challenge Stakes Handicap (1400m) at Trentham on October 5 and filled the same placing in a 1600m open handicap at Awapuni on December 26.
Gray said his only concern with Buckle Your Belt was his second topweight of 57kg. He said Buckle Your Belt was not a big horse and found it difficult when rising in the weights.
Xtra Belt, a year younger sister, is in race seven, a $15,000 race for three and four-year-olds over 1400m.
She was having her fourth race when winning a 1400m maiden at Otaki on December 20 at her last start.
The field she meets contains some promising horses - including Abbey Way, Bruxaar and Anna Bek - but Gray has plenty of time for Xtra Belt.
"She's a hard horse to handle but I'll tell you, she'll win races," the veteran trainer said.
Buckle Your Belt and Xtra Belt are two of four horses racing today who were both bred and owned by Gray, 70, in partnership with his wife Kathleen.
The other two are Valparaiso and Mega Belt in races four and nine respectively.
Valparaiso is a last-start impressive winner of a 2100m maiden at Otaki on December 20, while Mega Belt has recorded solid efforts at each of his three starts this season and has not had the best of luck, Gray said.
"He's been held up in his last couple of races. He's well and he's got a good draw [of five]."
Another good chance for Gray is Mi Starose, who is in race eight.
She was third over 1400m in a Waipukurau maiden on December 9 when resuming and an extra 200m today should suit.
She is one of five rides for Gray's apprentice Tyler Johnson, who said Mi Starose should be hard to beat after working well on Thursday.
"Tyler reckoned she worked better than any of the other horses that morning," Gray said.
Johnson has limited experience but Gray said he deserved every opportunity, even though he battles to ride at less than 54.5kg.
"He's a great little worker. He's a good rider but unfortunately he struggles with his weight," he said.
Gray's two runners in the non-pick6 races are stable star Porotene Gem and Perfect Pins.
Porotene Gem, winner of the group one $200,000 Levin Classic (1600m) for three-year-olds in 2006, has been freshened since last racing in strong spring company.
She was third to Dorabella in the group one $200,000 weight-for-age Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on October 27 before being given a break. Her recent trackwork at Awapuni has shown steady improvement as distances have increased.
Gray said the break from hard racing should allow Porotene Gem to race right through to end of autumn and an early target was the group one $250,000 Thorndon Mile Handicap (1600m) at Trentham on January 26.
Porotene Gem will be ridden by another of Gray's apprentices, Jane McGuinness, who won on the horse at Otaki last July. She claims a 4kg weight allowance.
Porotene Gem will contest a restricted handicap over 1200m, adistance the Pins four-year-old mare has not won at previously but Gray said he would not necessarily be surprised if she won in her fresh state today.
"I think she could. I just want her to have a strong hit-out and if she puts her hand up, then well and good. She certainly has the ability."
Perfect Pins, a colt by Pins, makes his debut in an 1100m race for two-year-olds.
Gray described Perfect Pins as "a little fatty" who may be better for the racing experience today.
"He's not big and probably wants a bit of time."
- NZPA
