Garros it's in his Bloodlines

A small but highly competitive field will battle it out on a rain affected track in this Friday’s TAB Federal. With recent rain, racing will be on a Heavy track which looks ideal for the Sapphire Coast-trained Garros. Garros is one of only two runners in the field who have tasted victory on Heavy ground.

Trained by Greg Stephens, Garros has seen three Heavy tracks for a win and two seconds and looks the most likely to appreciate the going. His last start second behind the talented Wichita Warrior reads very well for this contest over the 2000 metres. Trainer Greg Stephens thinks his 6-year-old gelding is a big chance of adding to his 4 career wins.

“Garros is going really, really well judging off his last run” Stephens said. “He’s a Lope De Vega (IRE) and they tend to love the slop, he’s going to be hard to beat on Friday.”

If Stephens’ galloper can figure in the finish in this Benchmark 70 he should be a key player in upcoming country features.

“We’ll see how he pulls up after this run but we may give him one or two more runs and then give him a spell with a view at aiming him at the country cups later in the year.” Stephens said.

Later in the day, Gratz Vella’s The Unknown Factor will look to make it four wins on the trot in the Darcy Bond Memorial Handicap over 1000m. Only a few starts back, The Unknown Factor’s race record read a modest 12 starts for one win and 5 minor placings. Fast forward two months and the 5-year-old grey has built a nice resume with four wins and counting.

“He’s going great guns at the moment” Vella said. “He’s got a big weight and a tough barrier but I think he’ll go well in the Heavy ground and I think he’ll be right in it again.”

Racing begins on Friday at Thoroughbred Park with the LongPark Meat Co. Handicap over 1200m which is due to jump at 12:25pm.

The Members Tipping Competition returns this meeting and is worth $19,000. Entry is free and exclusive to Canberra Racing Club Members. Entries close at the beginning of Race 3, the Jockeys Celebration Handicap at 1:40pm.