KEVIN Hanley is hoping a dry track and a better planned preparation will see Arctic Grey in the thick of the action in today’s Adrian Ledger Memorial (2400m).
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The six-year-old is a $15 chance for the 10th running of the race named in honour of the Wangaratta-born jockey who died after a race fall in 2005.
Arctic Grey was one of the favourites last year having won four of his previous six starts.
But Hanley says rain on City Handicap Day and running the stayer at Moonee Valley seven days earlier delivered a sub-par performance.
“He was in great form coming into the carnival last year,” he said.
“He’d won four from five, the only defeat was at Wangaratta when he was knocked over and probably should have won that too.
“But we were talked into running at Moonee Valley on the Friday before cup day and he just wasn’t at his best seven days later.
“Arctic Grey is also a lot better on top of the ground and while the track was rated slow last year it was almost heavy along the back straight.
“Bradley Vale got off him after the race and said he just wouldn’t stretch out in the conditions.”
Arctic Grey has won just the once, back on Oaks Day in November, in 11 starts this preparation.
Hanley admits the Al Maher gelding has turned into a dour stayer.
“He has lost that turn of foot he showed in his previous preparation,” he said.
“We’ll go forward from an inside gate and hopefully be in the first four or five turning for home.
“He had his last work on Monday on the grass and went well. Everyone wants to win a race on cup day and we are no different.”
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