Grenfell Going For Maturity Gold

BOX draws haven’t been kind to rising young Victorian trainer Correy Grenfell in his quest to claim a breakthrough Group 1 victory and that’s once again the case with Orson Allen in Saturday night’s Maturity Classic at The Meadows.

BOX draws haven't been kind to rising young Victorian trainer Correy Grenfell in his quest to claim a breakthrough Group 1 victory and that's once again the case with Orson Allen in Saturday night's Maturity Classic at The Meadows.

But despite drawing box six for the $100,000 to-the-winner Maturity, Grenfell, 24, remains optimistic about celebrating Group 1 glory for the first time with Orson Allen, a Wheeler-bred-and-owned May '16 son of KC And All and Desalle Bale, runner-up to litter brother Barcia Bale in the 2012 Maturity.

"I've been in four or five Group 1s now but I've been cursed by box draws," said Avalon-based Grenfell.

"I'm yet to run a placing in a Group 1 race but the draws have been putrid.

"We keep getting five and six. Soda Man had six in the Harrison-Dawson, Dyna Chancer had five in the Sandown Cup and now we've got six again with Orson Allen. I also had Dyna Forrest in the Australian Cup."

After running a close fourth in the Group 2 Bendigo Cup in early July, Orson Allen returned to The Meadows for the Maturity series, having opened his career in sensational style at the venue in April when winning a maiden heat in a scorching 29.81 on debut.

Orson Allen won his Maturity heat in 29.91 from box three and then started $2.90 favourite from box two in last Saturday's third semi-final, where his kennelmate Dyna Chancer was a $5.40 chance.

Orson Allen was best to begin and led $4 second elect Chief's Empire on the first turn; he then broke clear down the back as he defeated Chief's Empire by 2.9 lengths in 29.87, his ninth win from 15 starts and fourth from his last five.

"He's a seriously fast animal," Grenfell offered.

"We knew the talent he had but when he ran 29.81 at The Meadows at his first start I didn't think he was that special. It was only his second go around there too.

"I had my eyes on the Maturity and we weren't going to go for the Bendigo Cup but then we took him to Horsham and he flew. He's always trialled well on the horseshoe tracks, so it was a last minute decision to go to Bendigo and it almost paid off.

"I had Orson Allen and Dyna Chancer in the semi-final but I definitely thought Orson Allen was my best chance. Chief's Empire was the only other dog that could match him early and it was good to see him begin really well, because he'd been a little bit tardy at his last few starts."

Orson Allen was the second fastest semi-final winner, with Andrea Dailly's Dyna Patty clocking 29.80, while Brooke and Jamie Ennis claimed a semi double with Tritt Tritt and Barooga Brett running 29.97 and 30.31 respectively.

Dyna Patty is the $2 favourite in Bet365's Maturity market after drawing box one, while Orson Allen is the joint $4.80 second elect from an awkward draw in six, alongside first reserve My Redeemer.

"He can definitely still win it from box six," Grenfell said defiantly.

"I couldn't say I'm not confident but I would be a lot more confident if I was on the rails. He's got the speed to lead but on the two-turn tracks he tends to crash a bit, whereas on the horseshoes he goes straight. He's still a baby and is still green and learning.

"He's the quickest in the race in splits so if he can really hit the lids and gets a clear run through the first corner he'll give them something to catch. His race will be told with where he is on the first corner.

"I train the dogs with my fiancée Samantha Ferguson and winning a Group 1 would be life-changing for us for sure. We'd be able to buy a joint and expand the business. We all train to win a Group 1 but they're not easy to win."

Dyna Chancer was eliminated from the Maturity after finishing fifth to Orson Allen and Grenfell will now step the February '16 son of Dyna Double One, runner-up to champion kennelmate Fernando Bale in the 2015 Maturity, and Cailyn Bale back up in distance with his sights on the fast-approaching National Distance Championship.

Runner-up to superstar Tornado Tears in the Group 3 Racecallers Speed Star over 595m and a Sandown Cup finalist, Dyna Chancer will contest a 660m event at Ballarat on Thursday.

"Dyna Chancer should probably have won a Group race by now but he's run into Tornado Tears," Grenfell said ruefully.

"I was sort of waiting for Fanta Bale to retire before I stepped Dyna Chancer up but then Tornado Tears comes along. It was always the plan to drop him back in distance for the Maturity – and to steer clear of Tornado Tears – but we'll step him back up for the National Distance Championship now."

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