Trainer Clinton McDonald says State Grade has been given a lot of time and now needs to start rewarding connections for their patience.The Redoute's Choice four-year-old will be having his ninth start in the Slickpix Hcp (1700m) at Sandown on Wednesday.A half-brother to three-time Group One winner Regal Roller, State Grade is out of the Rancho Ruler mare Arantxa Rose."The whole family has been unsound. I had a really good filly out of the mare by Encosta De Lago (Rollon Rose) who broke down so w
Trainer Clinton McDonald says State Grade has been given a lot of time and now needs to start rewarding connections for their patience.
The Redoute's Choice four-year-old will be having his ninth start in the Slickpix Hcp (1700m) at Sandown on Wednesday.
A half-brother to three-time Group One winner Regal Roller, State Grade is out of the Rancho Ruler mare Arantxa Rose.
"The whole family has been unsound. I had a really good filly out of the mare by Encosta De Lago (Rollon Rose) who broke down so we haven't had a lot of luck with the family and this one's been given a lot of time," McDonald said.
"He seems to have responded well to the time and he's coming along slowly but nicely.
"This is his fifth run in but he needs a bit of racing as he's been lightly raced.
"He's only had eight starts and he's a four-year-old so he needs a bit of racing to learn what the caper is about and that is what we are going to do with him this preparation.
"The form around him has been very good but he needs to be winning tomorrow, that's for sure."
State Grade won a three-year-old maiden over 1215m at Benalla at his second start in May last year and three starts back took out a Ballarat Rating 72 Hcp (1400m) beating the promising Base.
But some of his best performances have come in defeat, when chasing home Group Three winner Doubtful Jack when runner-up over 1400m in an open three-year-old event at Flemington in June last year and when second to Enjin Number Nine in a Geelong Class One (1212m) first-up in January.
Two starts back he was beaten a half-head when runner-up to Base in a Rating 82 Hcp (1600m) under lights at Moonee Valley.
He then stepped up to a black-type race for the first time when a solid 1-1/4-length fifth to 200-1 shot Cybercyn in the Listed CS Hayes Memorial Cup (1600m) at Morphettville on March 14.
"It was a good effort. He still did a lot wrong but he finished the race off and hopefully he's improved again from there which I think he has," McDonald said.
"I've put the winkers on him tomorrow to keep him a little bit more focused.
"It seems to have helped in his trackwork and hopefully he'll do the job tomorrow for us."
State Grade, to be ridden by Danny Nikolic, is $2.10 favourite with TAB Sportsbet ahead of Lordoftheparrots at $3.40 and Merryvale at $4.60 with St Clement Danes next at $9.