Wright hopeful for four straight with Grant's Patch

Images supplied by Caught In The Act Photography CQ

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Lyle Wright will consider a central Queensland winter campaign if iron horse Grant’s Patch stretches his winning sequence to four at Rockhampton on Thursday.

Wright, 73, is still searching for his racing diamond and is unsure just yet whether Grant’s Patch can improve enough to be considered one of the best horses he’s trained.

Grant’s Patch, who will be ridden by Adam Spinks in the Benchmark 70 Handicap, was originally trained in Tamworth by Mark Mason before owners Graceville Thoroughbreds moved him on to Wright.

The five-year-old beat one home in his first start for Wright at Mackay last October and had another six starts before winning at the same track in January.

The son of the ill-fated Spill The Beans was placed in two of his next three starts at Rockhampton and Mackay before winning at Bowen on March 4, the first of three straight wins.

Grant’s Patch is coming off a decisive win in the Country Cup over 1600 metres at Rockhampton on March 31 when he easily accounted for the Craig Smith-trained Art By Concorde.

“He’s done a lot of racing and I have been a little hard on him but that’s because he rarely goes to the track during the week,” Wright said.

“It took him a few runs to show what he can do and what work he does during the week is only light.”

Jockey Chris McIver has been the four-year-old’s regular rider but is unavailable to maintain his association.

“Chris works in Townsville and finds it too hard to get away to ride at the midweek provincial meetings,” Wright said.

“Adam Spinks rode him at Mackay recently and only just got beaten on him so he’s back on.

“His last win was very impressive in the Country Cup but the runner-up Art By Concorde may have needed that run as he was second up over a mile.”

Wright hopes to plot a winter path with Grant’s Patch who is after win number six at his 21st start.

“If he comes through this run I might look at the Rockhampton Amateur Cup over a mile and then maybe the Rockhampton Cup,” Wright said.

Wright has trained many good sprinters since taking out his trainers’ licence while working in the coalmines at Dysart as a 22-year-old.

“I’ve had some good horses over the years like Purple Hand and Willey Worry who were crowned Horse Of The Year during their racing days in Mackay and Classy Crystal also was Horse Of The Year in Rockhampton in 2010,” he said.

“I’m not sure whether Grant’s Patch is up there with them just yet and only time will tell.”