Satisfying win for Grimson given the circumstances

FOR Jason Grimson yesterday’s success at Club Menangle was more satisfying than most midweek wins.

Grimson’s amplified joy stems from the conditions he finds himself in.

Last Saturday night Grimson was handed a notice by Harness Racing New South Wales stewards ordering him to stable his entire team in the retention barn as of the following morning.

Grimson’s group will remain under the watchful eye of stewards and security guards around the clock for two weeks.

While it wasn’t the stewards’ intention, their actions have immediately cast doubt over Grimson’s impressive strike rate this season.

“HRNSW advises that licensed trainer Mr Jason Grimson has been directed to present horses trained by him to the HRNSW Retention Facility at Tabcorp Park Menangle where they will be housed and trained under the supervision of HRNSW Stewards from 12 midday on Sunday 6 June 2021 until 8pm on Saturday 19 June 2021” was the simple statement from HRNSW.

“I just got told on Saturday night I had to take all my horses to the retention barn on Sunday morning and then they were all  swabbed when they got there,” Grimson said.

“Other than the fact some horses may not settle as well as I would like, which happens to horses from stables all over Australia when moved, I’ve got no problem with it.

“There are always going to be negative comments, and I guess one problem is mud sticks, but you’re never going to satisfy negative people.

“If the horses go just as good as they were the same negative people will find a reason to question everything and if some of the team doesn’t race as well it’s because of the security.

“I’ll just train as per usual and get on with my life.”

As for his latest win, Grimson was triumphant with Hidden Courage, which set a career best mark of 1:50.5 over a mile.

With Jack Trainor holding the reins, Hidden Courage scored by two-and-a-half metres from Mach Da Vinci, with Balraj seven metres away third.

“That was a satisfying win given we are in the retention barn,” Grimson said. “He’s won his last four starts now and has just run his quickest time.”