WINNO'S WINNERS: GRAFTON, JULY 10

By Darren Winningham | Saturday, July 9, 2022

The GRAFTON racing Carnival continues – feature race today is GRAFTON TOYOTA SOUTH GRAFTON CUP with the track rated “HEAVY”. The rail is out 3 metres. There is sunshine forecast but the rain earlier in the week combined with the low temperatures probably is not assisting with the upgrade of the track. We will be looking for some wet track runners today!

NB: As these selections were made prior to raceday please check for any changes to track conditions and for any scratchings on the day.

Race 1

We start the day off with a distance race over 2220 metres.

Tough race to commence the day with Class 1 and maiden runners over a long distance.

Lee Freedman trains Lately (2) who I think will be suited by this distance and he likes wet tracks. Will be ridden by Brodie Loy and comes off a nice effort in Class 2 last start at Eagle Farm.

I Am The Empire (9) is trained by Annabel Neasham and is only a two year old. They have backed this runner since the markets have opened with Brock Ryan to ride. Raced on a slow track at Newcastle over the mile last time out – I think it is a big ask for a two year old to run 2220 metres – so I am happy to lay this one.

Gracious Gracie (7) is a maiden – solid form on wet tracks – could be value.

La Rosa D’Oro trained by Cassandra Schmidt and will be ridden by her partner Luke Rolls. He better give it a good ride else he will be sleeping in the doghouse! Last start winner at huge odds ($41) at Coffs Harbour over 2015 metres. Could show up here.

Selections:

2 – Lately
9 – I Am The Empire
7 – Gracious Gracie
6 – La Rosa D’Oro

Race 2

A maiden over 1006 metres. Many runners here with gear changes – keep your eye on the market late to see if they come for one here.

Tony Newing has Single Touch (5) resuming here. He really does like soft tracks. He has had two solid trials in preparation for this run. He has the blinkers off and the winkers on and local jockey Ben Looker is a bonus.

Lady Wardell (12) is trained by Stephen Lee – he always seems to have a two-year-old runner in a race like this and then back them up later in the week in the two-year-old feature race later in the week. This filly has had two solid hit outs in two trials and has looked brilliant in each trial. Ashley Morgan will ride her for her first career start.

War Lady (11) is trained on the track by John Shelton. He always gets a winner, sometimes at huge odds over this Carnival – she is around $14 in the early markets, and she is second up for her new stable – look for a dramatic improvement.

Chameleon Choice (1) may have just been a victim of the second up yips at Taree in his last start. He was heavily supported, however, didn’t show too much. Brock Ryan will ride and look for a better effort.

Selections:

5 – Single Touch
12- Lady Wardell
11 – War Lady
1 – Chameleon Choice
Rough chance – (16) Waipio

Race 3

Class 1 over 1006 metres.

Brett Cavanough has a nice one here in Sahana (6). Resumed at Scone and won her maiden over 900 metres with Mikayla Weir to ride again. Looks well placed here.

Euphrates Dream (2) has performed well on a wet track – trained by Matthew Smith – Ashley Morgan will ride. Will sit in behind the speed in this race and could prove too good for them late.

Fire Up Bruce (3) won his maiden last time out for local trainer John Shelton. Matt McGuren will ride him again. Could be an upset chance at around $8.

Oblivion (4) is trained by John Sprague and Raymond Spokes will ride. I just think he may be one to finish off strongly here late as there is some good speed in this race. He seems to race back in his races and work home late. His past few starts he has been a victim of poor speed.

Selections:

6 – Sahana
2– Euphrates Dream
3 – Fire Up Bruce
4 – Oblivion
Rough chance – (10) Forked Tongue

Race 4

Another maiden over 1410 metres.

Matthew Smith has another strong chance here with Golden Chances (9) who is third up here and looks ideally placed. Ben Looker will ride him, and he has solid form on wet tracks and this distance looks right up his alley. He looks tremendously hard to beat at $7.

Here’s Harry (15), trained by Neil Godbolt and with Aaron Bullock to ride, is one at odds - $51 - that I think will enjoy the damp conditions and the longer distance – despite his price he represents good each way value.

The two-year-old runners are not without some genuine chance. Spitfire Sun (14) from the Paul Murray yards has had two solid efforts on heavy tracks. They bring him north to Grafton to win a race. This stable has a tremendous strike rate over this Carnival each year. He will be tough to hold out and he has been smashed since the markets have opened.

Enviable (13) is an Annabel Neasham runner who will have Brodie Loy to ride – second up here - keep safe.

A rough chance to Feirme Prince (4) who is the race favourite – not for me.

Selections:

9 – Golden Chances
15 – Here’s Harry
14 – Spitfire Sun
13 – Enviable
Rough chance – (4) Feirme Prince

Race 5

Maiden over 1410 metres. Again, keep your eye on the markets for any moves.

First leg of the Quaddie.

Chris Waller Racing has Pretes (13) in the race at prohibitive short odds. Lee Magorrian will ride this three-year-old filly. She resumed on a heavy track at Canterbury over 1250 metres and settled last before unleashing a barnstorming effort to flash home and finish fourth – still beaten 4 lengths. She does get the blinkers on for this start. I have put her on top here – but I think I can get her beaten with some of my other selections!

Some decent chances to beat the favourite are Zambrero (9) resuming here for Matthew Smith – Ashley Morgan will ride. Has had two trials and the latest he struck the line late – could be ready to show something here – just one concern has not had a look at a soft track.

Hettinger (3) is trained by the powerful Kris Lees Racing team. Andrew Bullock will ride. He has been campaigning in Queensland at his past start at Eagle Farm. He wasn’t disgraced in that effort over 1400 metres. He seems to get back in the field and come home late.

Bitter Romance (10) made her debut at Murwillumbah over 1100 metres. She settled back on a track where you normally cannot make ground, but she flew home. I think that with this long straight at Grafton she is all set to show something second up here over the longer distance with Lani Allen (Fancourt) to ride. If she wins the race, I am certain that I will get the tongue out from her and a big cheer!

Media Chick (12) is a 23-start maiden from the Paul Murray yards – keep safe his last start performance was noteworthy.

Selections:

13 – Pretes
9 – Zambrero
3 – Hettinger
10 – Bitter Romance
Rough chance – (12) Media Chick

Race 6

Class 3 over 1410 metres. First leg of the treble.

Field Regiment (4) was tried over the mile last start – I think that the distance was too far, and he turned in a below par performance. He comes back to a distance he has won at previously, and jockey Justin Huxtable will ride him again. Justin has ridden him two times for two wins – let’s hope he can keep the 100% strike rate this weekend.

Markievicz (3) is a city winner at Rosehill. She has had two starts back from a spell and on both occasions jumped poorly at the start and basically ruined her chances of winning. This weekend she is third up and I just hope that jockey Raymond Spokes can get her to jump cleanly. She jumps, she will be in the finish – simple really!

Viking Power (11) is another strong chance for the Paul Murray stable. He is second up in this race, and he has some solid form on heavy tracks – keep safe. Brock Ryan will ride as well.

Ultimate Man (5) – did they name this after WINNO? Has a great record at Grafton with 3 wins and 2 placings. Last time out didn’t run out the mile. Back in distance looks well placed and Andrew Gibbons – who also probably rates himself as the “Ultimate Man” will ride.

Dixie Can (8) from the Craig Martin yards has been well supported since the markets opened – keep safe.

Selections:

4 – Field Regiment
3 - Markievicz
11 – Viking Power
5 – Ultimate Man
Rough chance – (8) Dixie Can

Race 7 GRAFTON TOYOTA SOUTH GRAFTON CUP

The feature race here over 1600 metres.

An assault on this race is being made by the powerful Chris Waller Racing team. They could have the trifecta in the race!

I like the last start winner Wicklow (12) who will be ridden by Brock Ryan here. She won easily at Rosehill over 1500 metres on a wet track. She thrives on wet tracks, and she looks the one to beat.

The stable mate is Solar Apex (11) who will be ridden by Ben Looker. I think he may have found the 1800 metres a tad too far last time out. I expect him to run a bold race back at the mile when he has posted four previous wins.

The other runner is Wairere Falls (8) who will have Lee Magorrian riding. This runner has been solid over the mile. I think that he may be better placed on a drier track – but is not without some chance.

Grove Ferny (4) is trained by Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott. He ran an amazing fourth in the Group 2 Villiers in December 2021. He since has returned to racing and was first up two weeks ago over 1400 metres and put in a solid effort. He finished behind Taksu (since won) – strong form line for a race like this. James Innes Jnr will ride.

Lightning Jack (2), trained by Annabel Neasham, raced in the same race as Grove Ferny (4) in his last start. He stormed home over the 1400 metres to finish off the race strongly – probably suggesting that the mile is what he needs now. He is fourth up in this race and despite the huge weight could be there at the finish. He will be assisted by the solid tempo that should be in play here with Surf Dancer (3) normally liking to get out in front and go hard. The solid tempo should see this runner get home late. Brodie Loy has another nice ride here.

Selections:

12 – Wicklow
11 – Solar Apex
2 – Lightning Jack
4 – Grove Ferry
Rough chance – (8) Wairere Falls

Race 8

The last race of the day over 1610 metres – a tough race to be honest.

Joel Pengilly, from the Gold Coast, brings a last start winner here in Timely (7) and it has the addition of the winkers this weekend with Anthony Allen to ride as well – where he did all his early riding as an apprentice. She comes off a solid win at the Gold Coast last time out where she was strong on the line. She probably needs the track to be in the soft range to see the best of her, but she looks a promising type and I think she can take us home on a winning note.

Letmeletgo (6) is trained by Matthew Dunn with Matt McGuren to ride. Only a lightly raced gelding who has been racing consistently in New South Wales over the past few starts. Needs the track not to be heavy to show his best, however, on his recent form he probably will be competitive in this race.

Flying Banjo (11) is from the Paul Grills stables and the other runner from the stable is Fenerbache (16) – both have genuine chances here and cannot be overlooked on their recent efforts.

Pratten Park (13) is trained by Stephen Lee – Ashley Morgan to ride. Has a very good record at this track and has been racing consistently over the past few starts - he could show up at some decent odds and put some spice into your exotic bets.

That is, it for today – then it will be onto Wednesday next and the 2022 RAMORNIE!

Selections:

7 – Timely
6 – Letmeletgo
11 – Flying Banjo
13 – Pratten Park
Rough chances – (16) Fenerbache
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Jockeys Challenge

Brock Ryan, Ashley Morgan, and Ben Looker all have some nice rides. I think it could be a dead heat between Ashley and Ben!

Early Quaddie (races 1 to 4)

2,7,9 / 1,5,11,12 / 2,3,4,6 / 4,9,13,14,15 - cost is $240 to $1

Value Early Quaddie (races 1 to 4)

2,9 / 5,11,12 / 2,3,6 / 9,14,15 - cost is $54 to $1

Quaddie (races 5 to 8)

3,9,10,13 / 3,4,5,11 / 2,11,12 / 6,7,11,13 - cost is $192 to $1

Value Quaddie (races 5 to 8)

3,9,13 / 3,4,11 /11,12 / 6,7,11 - cost is $54 to $1

Treble (races 6 to 8)

3,4,5,11 / 2,11,12 / 6,7,11,13 - cost is $48 to $1

Finally GO NSW in State of Origin Wednesday night.

Oh yes – and please stop messaging you whining – sooky QLDers – you have COVID – front up and have a go!

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