By MIKE DILLON
One of thoroughbred racing's greatest horsemen, Charlie Whittingham, trained his first Kentucky Derby winner at the age of 73.
Kevin Gray will remind himself of that when he saddles Country Rose and Miss Jessie Jay for today's $120,000 Jaguar Easter Handicap at Ellerslie.
Gray is a fair way short of 73, but in 22 years of training he has yet to prepare a group one winner.
Gray has always been a horse trader and most of his team who had anything like group one potential were sold before they proved themselves on the tracks here.
Country Rose could change all that for Gray this afternoon.
The quality mare is due her share of luck in a big race and if even a bit of it comes her way, she can beat an extremely even line-up in Ellerslie's major group one metric mile of the year.
"There seems to have always been a hard luck story about her in the big ones, let's hope that changes this time," said Gray yesterday.
Country Rose has had four starts at Ellerslie.
With better fortune Country Rose could have won a McDonogh Railway and January's $150,000 Highview Stud Trophy, where she was only a head behind winner Sir Howard after being chopped out at the start.
Gray believes what was Country Rose's bad luck at Awapuni last Saturday could be her good fortune this time.
"She never got out to be able to have a crack at them and as a result she went to the finish with her head on her chest and did not have a hard run.
"Had she been able to find racing room Michael Walker would have had to really ask her and she probably wouldn't be in the same shape for this race with only seven days between races.
"She looked an absolute picture when I loaded her on the float to go to Auckland this morning."
The track conditions, officially easy last night, should suit Country Rose perfectly. She has had six starts on easy tracks for two wins and four placings.
The track conditions should create a racing pattern for horses finishing hard at the leaders in the last 250m - a Country Rose speciality.
Gray says he rates his second runner Miss Jessie Jay just as strong a chance.
"I'm as happy with her as I am with Country Rose.
"There is not much of her, but she never gives it away and I think she can be right in it."
Leading jockey Michael Walker rides Country Rose and David Walker has retained the Miss Jessie Jay ride after last week's win at Awapuni.
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