Gray to force his way into Outback Racing Showcase calculations

By Jordan Gerrans​

Hard-working hoop Matthew Gray has hit the ground running after a lengthy injury lay-off and believes he goes into Saturday's feature Outback Racing Showcase Final with a strong winning hope.

The 45-year-old was out of the saddle on race day between the back end of August last year and March of 2024 after a fall at track work which resulted in ankle and shoulder concerns.

The FIFO jockey has collected five winners since he made his return, headlined by scoring aboard Sir Carter for the Hulbert barn at Gatton on his first day back at the track in late March.

He hits the road – and the airport as well – again this weekend as Gray heads to McKinlay for the annual ORS Final which is raced for $30,000 and doubles as the McKinlay Cup.

The annual race brings together the best gallopers from the North West and Central West regions of the Sunshine State.

“It is a good race for the country people, it is a highlight on the calendar every year,” Gray said.

“It gives them something to aim for without having to travel all the way to Brisbane."

McKinlay Race Club President Robert Bulley was born and bred in the region and lives nearby.

Bulley says the entire local community are looking forward to getting to the track for the six event non-TAB card.

“It’s shaping up as another good day out,” Bulley said.

“We’re not the flashiest show in the west but we’ve got good facilities and people like to come here.

“The fashions seem to be getting bigger every year and that is usually pretty competitive, plus we have the barefoot races after the last.

“There’s $1,500 up for grabs in the open 200 metre race and we’ll have a Calcutta running on that beforehand.”

Gray has been booked to partner Le Force for Mount Isa Jay Morris in the 1500 metre ORS Final.

The Outback Racing Showcase series consists of six heats before the $30,000 Final at McKinlay.

The annual ORS is a popular series in the bush.

To be eligible to compete in the Final, a horse must have earned points in a minimum of one of the six heats and must have competed in a minimum of three events at country level in Queensland over the last year.

Le Force ran third in a heat on his home track earlier this month.

The Saunders family-owned galloper has not won in six attempts since July of last year.

Gray rode the gelding back in May of last year when he ran second to Han Dynasty at Buchanan Park in Mount Isa. 

That effort gives Gray confidence that Le Force can be competitive this Saturday on the dirt at McKinlay.

“There is not anything else I would rather ride in the race, Jay always has his horses trained well for what he has primed them to do,” Gray said.

“I have ridden this horse before but not for some time now and it was a good effort to run second to Han Dynasty on that day.

“On that day, Le Force was stepping up from a Class 3 race up to open company, it was a step up to see how he handled the grade and he did it well I thought.

“The horse has matured a bit since then.”

Gray – who rides work at Deagon and Doomben most mornings – has two other bookings for the Morris stable on Saturday.

He will ride Le Weasel in the QTIS Class 3 Plate over 1200  metres and Not Another Reiby in the Open Handicap over 1000 metres.

“I have not ridden for Jay heaps but when I do, I like riding for him because he is very good at what he does,” he said.

“He places them well so you know they are always going to race well.”

Gray – aboard Van Winkel for trainer Mark Oates - finished third in the ORS Final of 2021, which was won by the now retired Sizzalating.

The regular regional trips have been fruitful for Gray over the years after he was booked to ride in the Battle Of The Bush decider last year.

While he rides mostly in the Central and North West of the state, he is still chasing rides across South East Queensland and the surrounding areas.

He has been booked for rides at Gatton on Thursday and Kilcoy on Friday.

Gray made his winning return at Gatton earlier this year aboard Sir Carter for co-trainers Peter and Will Hulbert.

“It was good to get a winner for them after Pete and Will asked me to do some for them,” he said.

“It just worked out that the horse was starting in a couple of weeks and I got the ride.

“It was good to get the opportunity for them and while the stable have Mark Du Plessis and Adin Thompson as their usual riders, hopefully there is a few opportunities for me in the future.”