Donna Grisedale knew she had to rely on the jockey who knows Battle Anthem best when the Kembla trainer heads to her home track on Thursday.
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Unsurprisingly, that meant turning to husband Jon to take the ride on her tricky three-year-old for the Duck Creek Dash Maiden Plate (1000m).
“I could have all the offers in the world from people to ride him, but I have to stick with someone who knows him like Jon,” Grisedale said.
“He obviously rides him in all of his work and he is a very hard horse to ride.
“He just pulls so hard in the run and it is just a matter of trying to get him to relax.”
Battle Anthem is having his second race start after finishing runner up on debut at Moruya over the 1010m on March 31. Grisedale felt it was best to keep her son of I Am Invincible at the same trip at Kembla.
It is just a matter of trying to get him to relax
- Donna Grisedale
“The way he races, I didn’t want to step him up just yet,” Grisedale said.
“I definitely don’t want to lead with him.
“We are hopeful of finding a bit of cover and hopefully he can work it out from there.”
Grisedale also has Ragdoll in the opening event on the card, but felt Battle Anthem was the better of her two chances.
Grisedale sent one runner to Cessnock on Anzac Day, with Coloane saluting in a Class 2 Handicap.
