Racing: Promising galloper has to make grade

Trainer Clinton McDonald says State Grade has been given plenty of time and now needs to start rewarding connections for their patience.

The Redoute's Choice 4-year-old will be having his ninth start in the Slickpix Hcp (1700m) at Sandown today. A half-brother to three-time group one winner Regal Roller, State Grade is out of the Rancho Ruler mare Arantxa Rose.

"The whole family has been unsound. I had a really good filly out of the mare by Encosta De Lago [Rollon Rose] who broke down so we haven't had a lot of luck with the family and this one's been given a lot of time," McDonald said yesterday.

"He seems to have responded well to the time and he's coming along slowly but nicely.

"He's only had eight starts and he's a 4-year-old so he needs a bit of racing to learn what the caper is about and that is what we are going to do with him this preparation.

"The form around him has been very good but he needs to be winning tomorrow, that's for sure."

State Grade won a 3-year-old maiden over 1215m at Benalla at his second start in May and three starts back won a Ballarat Rating 72 Hcp (1400m) beating the promising Base.

But some of his best performances have come in defeat, when chasing home group three winner Doubtful Jack when runner-up over 1400m in an open 3-year-old event at Flemington in June last year and when second to Enjin Number Nine in a Geelong Class One (1212m) first-up in January.

"I've put the winkers on him to keep him a little bit more focused.

"It seems to have helped in his trackwork and, hopefully, he'll do the job for us."

State Grade, to be ridden by Danny Nikolic, is $2.10 favourite with TAB Sportsbet.

- AAP