Denis Gray
When, in January, 1991, jockey Mark Perret was injured, Stan Mellor replaced him with the redoubtable New Zealander Denis Gray.
When, in January, 1991, jockey Mark Perret was injured, Stan Mellor replaced him with the redoubtable New Zealander Denis Gray.
Denis repayed that trust with a great victory on King's Curate in the Munns Electrical Handicap Hurdle at Ascot, one of two wins he enjoyed on the horse.
Denis repayed that trust with a great victory on King's Curate in the Munns Electrical Handicap Hurdle at Ascot, one of two wins he enjoyed on the horse.
His greatest triumph for Stan Mellor came at Aintree in 1990 aboard Lean Ar Aghaidh when winning the Seagram Foxhunters'.
His greatest triumph for Stan Mellor came at Aintree in 1990 aboard Lean Ar Aghaidh when winning the Seagram Foxhunters'.
All told, he won 21 amateur races on his regular spring trips to England, which he had first visited in 1977.
All told, he won 21 amateur races on his regular spring trips to England, which he had first visited in 1977.
Tragedy struck in 1993 when Denis was paralysed from the neck down following a fall from Go Noble at Te Rapa racecourse (New Zealand).
Tragedy struck in 1993 when Denis was paralysed from the neck down following a fall from Go Noble at Te Rapa racecourse (New Zealand).
Aged 50, Denis Gray died from pneumonia in 1999.
Aged 50, Denis Gray died from pneumonia in 1999.