WINNO'S WINNERS: GRAFTON, JULY 5, 2020
By Darren Winningham | Saturday, July 4, 2020
GRAFTON RACES – SUNDAY 5 JULY 2020
DAY TWO of the 2020 Grafton Carnival.
The track is “soft” this weekend and the rail is in the true position. This Sunday features the running of the 2020 Grafton Toyota South Grafton Cup.
Race 1
A distance race to start off the day.
Just a fun fact, Ben Looker won this race last year on Champagne Vega for Bruce Hill – can he win it in consecutive years?
Then we have another side battle – Stephen Lee versus his old student Ethan Ensby.
They are head to head here with their respective runners – Lee has Patriot Missile (1) and Ensby has Eliabella (4) making her debut for his stable.
I think it is a race between these two chances.
Patriot Missile (1) just gets the nod for me after his solid effort last start at Murwillumbah – his previous run was here and he seemed to get too far back before making a sustained run home. With this smaller field Looker should be able to sit him off the pace and ride him quiet before making his move late.
So, it looks like the wise Lee may give the “new kid on the block” Ensby a lesson here!
Selections:
1 – Patriot Missile
4 – Eliabella
2 – Verdancy
5 – Maquina Voladora
Race 2
Kypreos (2) is trained by Con Karakatsanis who arrived with a BANG on Day 1 training two winners on the track! This runner, who has been well found in the early markets firming from $2.20 to $1.75, will be ridden by Koby Jennings.
It is only a small field, however, there is a fair bit of speed in the race and Kypreos will drop out and might need some luck to come wide and win the race. One of the leaders may just kick on with the rail in the true position.
Last start at Newcastle Kypreos was hampered in the straight, got no clear running and finished on the heels of the eventual winners – with some luck in running and this big wide track he should get all the favours.
Will Con upset the local runner Haven Road (1) trained by Dwayne Schmidt on the track and owned by the CRJC CEO Michael Beattie. This runner is third up this preparation and will be ready to fire. Last start he was sent out a short-priced favourite but couldn’t run down the eventual winner.
The other danger is Northern Star (7) trained by Stephen Bennett, who trained the John Carlton Cup winner (feature race on Day 1) Exclusive, ridden by Kirk Matheson. They partner here again with Northern Star (7) who last start seemed to fade late over 1400 metres at Casino. I hope that she has derived some benefit from that run and may show up here.
Selections:
2 – Kypreos
7 – Northern Star
1 – Haven Road
5 – Globites Jayar
Race 3
A maiden over 1100 metres.
Warren Gavenlock and Luke Rolls combine with Money Travels (6) who is third up this preparation. Forget about the last run at Port Macquarie where the heavy 10 track brought him undone. He resented it and raced poorly. With a firmer track at Grafton look for a dramatic improvement. He will race probably three pairs back off the lead and will enjoy the speed that is in the race.
Selections:
6 – Money Travels
9 – Finest Act
10 – Gogh Fox
4 – Nothing Is Easy
Race 4
Another sprint race over 1000 metres for Class 1 horses.
The topweight Debrief (1) looks to be a solid chance to start off the Quaddie. He won last start breaking his maiden at Dubbo in a good time. Despite drawing a little wide I do not think this will harm his chances. He will get a nice trail into the race and come home fiercely late like he did winning his maiden.
Bonnie Joy (6) comes off a seven-week let up after a poor effort at Tamworth. There seemed to be no excuse for the dismal effort, but I think the freshen up will have done her some benefit. She is trained at Port Macquarie by Colt Prosser who landed a massive plunge with a winner on Day 1 of the Carnival. Look for them to come late for this runner – maybe another Grafton plunge will come off!
Sailing (11) from Stephen Lee Racing led and won her maiden at Casino last start. She gave a strong kick late and proved too good. This weekend she has drawn the rails and if she jumps cleanly may take a power of running down in the straight.
Selections:
1 – Debrief
6 – Bonnie Joy
11 – Sailing
4 - Venusian
Race 5
A Class 3 over 1400 metres.
Damit (7) is trained by Karakatsanis and will be ridden again by Koby Jennings. This runner is third up now this preparation and has been running on soft and heavy tracks since resuming. Last start he struggled on a soft track at Hawkesbury. He jumped awkwardly at the start and did not seem to get back into the race. I am forgiving that run and looking for a dramatic improvement here.
Bugalugs (4) is trained on the track by veteran Grafton trainer John Shelton. He was superb last start leading all the way at Casino for a dominant win over 1200 metres. Ben Looker remains aboard to see if Bugalugs can post his maiden win at his home track. He will have no problems with the 1400 metres and if a pattern of leaders winning emerges in the first few races it may be well advised to back this runner.
A like a couple of roughies. Tis Toby (11) trained by Cathy Chapman won at Casino leading last start with Luke Rolls aboard.
The other is Dark Euro (10), trained by Fleur Blanch, who resumes here with Brooke Stower aboard. Just think it may be a tough assignment first up from a 13-week spell over 1400 metres, but he has won previously first up.
Selections:
7 – Damit
4 – Bugalugs
11 – Tis Toby
10 – Dark Euro
Rough chance (1) Balmaceda
Race 6 GRAFTON TOYOTA SOUTH GRAFTON CUP 2020
The Day 2 feature race – the Grafton TOTOTA South Grafton Cup over a mile.
It is an incredibly good field.
I have gone for a runner who I think is on the up and, despite coming back in distance (2005 metres) last start, I expect him to be difficult to beat. He has drawn barrier 15 – but he races from back in the field and he has had a 44-day let up since his last win. A recent barrier trial at Casino over 1000 metres I think sharpened him up well for this feature race. He drops in weight due the conditions of the race – will be ridden by the in-form Belinda Hodder. This runner is trained by Brett Dodson. I am tipping Galway (13).
Oakfield Captain (4) from the Damian Lane stables at Wyong must be respected as well. He is not a fan of heavy tracks and was unable to cope on the heavy surface last start at Randwick. Forget that run and go on the previous solid effort at Taree on a good surface where he won the Wingham Cup over a mile.
Casino Mondial (3) has met with solid support since the markets have opened firming noticeably. He is trained by Michael Byers and will be ridden by Raymond Spokes. He was beaten by Oakfield Captain (3) last start at Taree and meets that runner 3 kilograms better in this race for being beaten only 0.6 lengths. On facts and figures you would think the finishing order would be reversed here this weekend.
Prima Stella (10) won the Wauchope Cup last start over 1500 metres at Port Macquarie. The run that stands out for me is the race at Casino over 1400 metres where he was narrowly defeated by Exclusive – who came out and won the feature race last Sunday. That appears to be strong form for this race IF he can run a mile. Daniel and Rocky Simonetta train this runner and they have gone to the local jockey Ben Looker to get the job done for them.
Jazzland (1) comes off some solid Sydney metropolitan form and is second up with a massive weight.
Cogliere (6) is trained by Marc Quinn and won this race in 2018. He has not won a race since that win – a total of 108 weeks now. I just do not think he is firing at the moment, but he does love this Grafton circuit and could prove to be a blow out chance.
Selections:
13 – Galway
4 – Oakfield Captain
3 – Casino Mondial
10 – Prima Stella
Rough chance (1) Jazzland (6) Cogliere
Race 7
The last race on Day 2 – we have made it to here. Let us see if we can load up our pockets to have a crack at the Grafton Ramornie Calcutta to be held at the Grafton District Service Club (GDSC) on Tuesday night!
Let us hope for some magic in the last race with the gelding trained by Chris Manson - Heza Magic Man (3) - who won here last start over 1710 metres. He is a seven-year-old – that does concern me – but his last start win was strong. Ben Looker is aboard.
Lady Wahoo (10) ran fourth behind Heza Magic Man (3) and meets him better at the weights here – must be considered.
Sinepari (7), trained by Stephen Lee, failed on a bog heavy track last start. Back on top of the ground with Jon Griesdale riding again he could pop up and some great odds.
Selections:
3 – Heza Magic Man
10 – Lady Wahoo
7 – Sinepari
2 – The Kroc
Rough chance (1) Real Gent
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Jockey’s Challenge
Ben Looker and Koby Jennings have some nice rides. I think Ben looks the one to beat here.
Early Quaddie (races 1 to 4 NSW only)
1,4 / 1,2,7 / 6,9,10 / 1,4,6,11 - cost is $72 to $1
Value Early Quaddie (races 1 to 4 NSW only)
1 / 2,7 / 6,9 / 1,6,11 - cost is $12 to $1
Quaddie (races 4 to 7)
1,3,6,11 / 4,7,10,11 / 3,4,13 /2,3,7,10 - cost is $192 to $1
Value Quaddie (races 4 to 7)
1,6 / 4,7,11 / 4,13 / 3,7,10 - cost is $36 to $1
Treble (races 5 to 7)
4,7,10,11 / 3,4,13 / 2,3,7,10 - cost is $48 to $1
BIG 6 (NSW only races 2 to 7)
2,7 / 6,9 / 1,6,11 / 4,7,11 / 3,4,13 / 3,7,10 - cost is $324 to $1
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