Murray Bridge trainer Karen Byrnes will try to extend a successful summer on her home track this Saturday.
Byrnes has produced three winners from her past seven starters and will launch the next chapter in the career of former Victorian galloper Grinzinger Star.
Formerly with Danny O’Brien, Grinzinger Star looked a smart horse in the making in his three-year-old season when he was placed in the Geelong Classic behind Home Ground before running down the track behind Extra Brut in the 2018 Victorian Derby.
The son of Reliable Man is a Caulfield winner over both a mile and 2000m and Byrnes said she’d like to get him to a nice race during the Adelaide Carnival.
“He’s an impressive horse, I’m chuffed to have him in my stable,” Byrnes said.
“You don’t get too many horses who can say they’ve beaten Mr Quickie come into your stable, so it’s nice.
“His best form is probably 1800-2000m. I haven’t really had a look at the program but maybe a race like the Birthday Cup, he might be up to that.”
Byrnes said it was refreshing to see owner John Wheeler send horses to SA, especially the calibre of Grinzinger Star.
“It’s really encouraging to get the opportunity with horses like him,” Byrnes said.
“I’d been pestering for a while to get this horse and John said ‘I’m going to call you sticky, you don’t give up an idea’.
“He’s down in the ratings a little bit (and) he hasn’t won for a while, so it’s really about getting him back winning
“He came to me and I wasn’t convinced he was ready. I stuck him back out and he’s come back a totally different horse. He’d had big preps, was tried for a Derby and doesn’t handle the wet at all.”
Stablemate Street Life steps out in the same race on the back of an impressive last-start Gawler victory and Byrnes said the horse was thriving on being kept fresh.
“He really enjoys the space between races,” Byrnes said.
“He’s really well and I’m really happy with him.”
She also has Grinzinger Express stepping out over 1000m earlier in the day, while stablemate Rubble comes off a deserving last-start win on his home track.
“She (Grinzinger Express) trialled really well and goes very well first-up,” Byrne said. “She’s come back a bigger stronger horse and she’s flying.
“And Rubble hasn’t really run a bad race here. He should go well again.”
IMAGE: Grinzinger Star winning in Melbourne. PHOTO: Danny O’Brien Racing
