Life is about to change for Ray Steele but he is hoping to continue winning habits at Maitland on Thursday with Ronray Spirit.
The smart newcomer, who has six wins from 12 starts so far, jumps from box seven in the Len and Nellie Sharp Stakes (457m).
It is a high-quality race, with the opposition including Gosford record-holder Avondale Al (box three) and impressive newcomer Lord Licrick.
Western Sydney trainer Steele, who is moving close to the Victorian border soon for family reasons, thinks his charge can secure a victory here.
“This is an extraordinarily good fifth grade race,” he said. “This is not a race for the half-hearted.
“(Ronray Spirit) is going terrific. He didn’t have any luck last start but he has done well.
“Certainly if he does everything right he will be competitive.”
This could be a last visit to Maitland for a while for 66-year-old Steele, who will do most of his racing at Victorian tracks after his move.
Ronray Spirit has had injury problems and is a notch down at this stage from his superb sister, Lady Ronray.
He looks better drawn from the inside but can win here if he jumps well.
It could be a big few days for Steele, with Lady Ronray jumping from box seven in this Sunday’s Group 2 Laurels Classic Final (515m) at Sandown Park.
The chaser, who is NSW’s sole representative in the big race, has clocked up 14 wins in 2014 and given Steele one of his best years in more than four decades of training.
“I would say so,” he said.
“I might have a look at the Paws of Thunder (in January) with Lady Ronray. I’ll have a look at the Futurity (the same month) as well.
“I’ll still come back to Wentworth Park if I have the dogs good enough.
“I’ll still be living in New South Wales so I won’t be a stranger.”
Meanwhile, Richmond Vale’s Jason Mackay will continue to blood three of his promising greyhounds at Maitland.
Zipping Saxon looks the best of the trio and jumps from box one in the day’s fifth race over 450m.
He has one win and four placings from five starts so far and is dropping down slightly in class here.
Zipping Eastwood looks good for race six, while Louise McGee’s Nipper’s Babe and John Miles’s Senor Laurie can complete the quaddie in races seven and eight respectively.
For Maitland Thursday fields, form and expert tips, click here.
