Copper Belt Racing Stables

Ernie Harris, one of the exciting three-year-old finds to have hit the ground running before August 1, makes his much-awaited racing comeback this Friday.

But an ordinary turn in a similar Graduation race over 1000m just over a month later and a run of rotten luck were to scuttle such lofty plans for the New Zealand-bred.

The Kiwi trainer decided the son of Castledale was a bit “sour” and a break away from the rigours of racing would do him a power of good and readied just in time for the first Leg of the 3YO series - the Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m) on April 1.

Unfortunately, Ernie Harris, who is named after Gray’s maternal grandfather and whom he races himself in partnership with Stanley Chu, was beset by a “nightmarish” litany of woes that put him on the outer for even longer.

“After he lost at his third start, I thought he had had enough and needed a break,” said Gray.

“The plan was to spell him for a month and bring him back, but then he had a nasty virus. That effectively put him out of action for another month and pretty much ruled him out of the 3YO series.

“Then, we nursed him back and he was coming along nicely until he got a foot abscess. It’s been nightmare after nightmare with this horse.”

Gray said that the time away has actually been a blessing in disguise in terms of cooling off his hot head.

“He was a real handful at the beginning. On his debut, he reared up and actually dumped Vlad (Duric) on the way to the barriers,” said Gray.

“But he’s a lot more settled now. That’s the thing about talented horses – you just need to be patient with them.

“They have the quality and when they run into problems, you just have to bide your time until they come right.”

Gray has put Ernie Harris through two barrier trials as the last finishing touches before putting a racing saddle back on him in the $55,000 Class 4 race over 1100m on Polytrack this Friday.

“He’s come back in good order and I will see how he goes this Friday,” said Gray who is currently holidaying in New Zealand with his family before heading back on Friday itself on time to see his charges race that night.

“I actually wanted him to race over grass but I had no choice but to put him in a Polytrack race.”

Drawn in barrier No 5, Ernie Harris will be ridden by Vlad Duric and will count impressive debut winner Birthday Gift as one of his most serious opponents.

“I don’t really know much about the field as I haven’t really seen the card. All I am hoping is a good run from him and we’ll take it from there,” said Gray.

“I think he will get better over more ground – a mile, easy. But for now, I just want him to show he has overcome his problems and hopefully pick up where he left off.”