WINNO'S WINNERS: GRAFTON CUP DAY

By Darren Winningham | Wednesday, July 12, 2023

WINNO is at GRAFTON for the fourth day of the 2023 GRAFTON CARNIVAL. It is the traditional GRAFTON CUP 2023 this year sponsored by long term club sponsors WESTLAWN.

The track rated “GOOD”. The rail is in the true position for the entire circuit.

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

Race 1 NBN NEWS SPRINGBOARD TO FAME – for 2-year-olds.

A 1200 metre race for the babies.

Scott Henley produced one on the first day of the Carnival – Volcanic Love (1) - in an impressive and dominant debut. Could not fault it – Anthony Allen will ride him again. He will be looking to get as much cash in the bank with the announcement of his wife Lani being pregnant with their first baby recently. Should be winning this.

Drama Dodger (7) made her debut at Muswellbrook at a huge price over 1000 metres. I think that this Kristen Buchanan trained runner will be suited by the extra distance. Tyler Schiller will ride.

Enterprise Private (1) flew home late behind Volcanic Love (5) on debut. Trained here by John Shelton – could be a huge improver – Ryan Maloney will ride.

Selections:

5 – Volcanic Love
7 – Drama Dodger
1 – Enterprise Private
8 – Erelle

Race 2 MOTHER’S GIFT

This is a race over 1400 metres for the fillies and mares. There is some serious speed in this race – they could do damage to each other.

Stephen Lee combines with Rachel King with his runner Byron Eyes (3) who won at large odds last time out at Ballina. I think that she will appreciate the extra distance. She has a great appeal on firm tracks as well – she seems to thrive on them. The other thing is that she will not be in the speed battle up front and hopefully can come over the top of the opposition late.

The Kris Lees Racing team is well represented with Confessed (1) – Aaron Bullock to ride - and Highly Ambitious (2) with Andrew Mallyon aboard. Both come off some solid form and must not be overlooked.

Damien Lane has Princess Amire (5) engaged with Ben Looker aboard. Could run a bold race.

Selections:

3 – Byron Eyes
2 – Highly Ambitious
1 – Confessed
5 – Princess Amire

Race 3 THE BIG MAIDEN

A maiden race – with a purse of $21,000 for the winner – the race is over 1175 metres.

Tracey Bartley brings Stanczyk (3) to the races with Aaron Bullock to ride. This gelding has had one race start where he was gallant in defeat. He has had a 49-week spell - however, has had two recent solid trails where he has performed well. If there is any money for this one on the day – follow it.

Victory Gold (1) debuted at Coffs Harbour over 1000 metres. He got too far back and then had a checkered run in the straight. I think the extra distance and the nice barrier will see him salute. Kyle Wilson Taylor will ride.

Yurok (7) is a debutant for Ethan Ensby – I think I will go and buy him a decent pair of sunglasses prior to Thursday. This filly is on debut. She won a trial here back in January and has been hidden away since then. He did bring one to the races on Sunday and got the chocolates at a huge price. The lugging bit goes on for her first start. Matthew Palmer will ride – she has drawn well.

Freewheeler from the Brett Cavanaugh yards has been solid in his recent starts running placings. Braith Nock will ride, and his 2-kilogram claim may assist late.

Dominance from the Maryann Brosnan yards could pose a rough chance.

I see Will and Peter Hulbert have an emergency in the race that has been trialling well – Red Deception (16) – could show up at a huge price.

Selections:

1 – Victory Gold
3 – Stanczyk
7 – Yurok
8 – Freewheeler
Rough chance – (5) Grand Horizon & (10) Dominance & (16) Red Deception

Race 4

Class 1 over 1400 metres. Tough way to end the early Quaddie.

Blue Canasta (4) flew home over 1215 metres on day one of the Carnival. He was beaten in the closest of photos. He previously won a maiden over 1400 metres. I think stepping back up to 1400 metres will suit this Stirling Osland runner. Aaron Bullock will ride him – look for a solid effort.

Bellzen (1) raced at Ballina over 1310 metres last time out. Just seemed to peak on the run late and went down narrowly. Jake Bayliss will ride him again. He has drawn well and should be competitive.

Proud With Pride (11) is trained by Brett Cavanough and has Jimmy Orman aboard. She raced in the Guineas Prelude – I think that race will be a strong form race. She settled back after missing the start and then made up some solid ground late. If she can jump cleanly here, she should be very competitive. She has won over 1550 metres so she should be strong at the finish.

Golden Breeze (9) could be a rough chance. There has been some money for this runner since the markets have opened.

Selections:

4 – Blue Canasta
1 – Bellzen
11 – Proud With Pride
9 – Golden Breeze

Race 5

First leg of the Quaddie. Class 6 over 1175 metres.

Matthew Dunn Racing has two chances here - Snazz N Charm (11) and Coco Rox (12).

Coco Rox (12) resumed at Doomben in a midweek race at Doomben over 1050 metres. Probably too short and the tongue tie goes on here – Ben Thompson will ride. The stable mate is Snazz N Charm (11) – he seems to be just racing without much luck. Maybe Ben Looker can get the best out of him.

Andy (2) is from the local Andrew Parramore stables. Anthony Allen retains the ride after riding him in the John Carlton Cup and running a wonderful second behind Proverbial. That run should see him right in the mix here late. He also has a good record on this track with six starts for 2 wins and 3 seconds. Will settle midfield and make a dash late.

Fortyfive Parklane (4) is trained by Samantha McGuren and Matthew McGuren will ride the gelding. He resumed carrying a massive 62.5 kilograms at Murwillumbah. He is a track specialist winning four times here out of seven starts – they cannot be serious posting him at $16.

Selections:

12 – Coco Rox
2 – Andy
4 – Fortyfive Parklane
11 – Snazz N Charm

Race 6

The first leg of the treble. This is a tough assignment for a BM66 over 1000 metres.

Baiyka (6) is trained by Aiden St Vincent. Is first up here and drawn well in barrier 2 – Jimmy Orman will ride. His first up record is outstanding, and he has had two career starts here on this Grafton track for two wins. He also loves these short distances. Probably will settle midfield and will need to make a solid sprint in the straight.

Small Town (8), trained by Sue Grills, won on the first day of the Carnival - a solid win – but no tip from the stable to WINNO. He likes to lead, however, from barrier 15 he may struggle. Casey Waddell retains the ride – she has ridden him four times for 2 wins.

In A Step (2) is trained by Grafton Cup winning jockey Peter Graham. Races on the speed and drawn well in barrier 9 – Zac Wadick will ride and his 2-kilogram claim will come in handy.

Debussy (3) is a Tony Ball runner with Aaron Bullock aboard. He resumed with a solid effort at Port Macquarie over 1000 metres before they took him to Rosehill in a Class 3 Highway. On that occasion he drew wide, got caught wide and was always going to tire late. Look for a bold effort here.

Awesome Miss (11), trained on the track, could be a rough chance.

Selections:

6 – Baiyka
3 – Debussy
8 – Small Town
2 – In A Step
Rough chance – (11) Awesome Miss

Race 7 2023 WESTLAWN GRAFTON CUP 2023

The second last race and the feature race of Day 4 – the time-honoured Grafton Cup raced over 2350 metres.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott team have the recent Sunshine Coast Cup winner in the race – Zoumon (2). He was perfectly rated in front by Tim Clark in that race – in fact it was a bold ride that controlled the tempo of the race from start to finish. Rachel King will take the ride in the Grafton Cup. She is looking to win consecutive Cups after winning on Arapaho trained by Bjorn Baker in 2022. The Waterhouse stable have won this race four times in the past nine years – an impressive record. This runner meets the opposition that he defeated at the Sunshine Coast worse at the weights – on the weights you could say he cannot possibly win the race.

Regal Lion (3) meets Zoumon (2) three kilograms better for that defeat. He only seemed to plug home late – he will need to do better here. He is trained by Annabel Neasham and Ben Thompson will ride him again. Ben did win the Ipswich Cup aboard this runner two starts ago.

Irish Sequel (4) is trained by the powerful Chris Waller Racing stable This is one of the country Cups that has eluded this powerful stable – maybe 2023 is the year with Jimmy Orman to ride this runner. He raced in the Sunshine Cup as well last time out. He got too far back in a race that was run at a slow tempo. He then worked home late and made-up ground. He looks like he is about ready to show his best – maybe the Grafton Cup is the day.

Benaud (7) is from the John O’Shea yards with Tyler Schiller to ride. He comes off some Listed races where he seemed to be outclassed. Then they sent him to Wyong in a Class 1 race over 2100 metres and he destroyed them winning by 5.5 lengths. There has been plenty of money for him since the markets opened – I cannot have him. I think that he is totally outclassed in this field - IF the track was wet, I think he would come into calculations.

Outlandos (9), trained by John Sargent, comes off a win last time out at Randwick over 2600 metres. Prior to that he had won at Rosehill over 2400 metres before heading to Eagle Farm for the Brisbane Cup (Group 2) over 3200 metres – I think you should just forget that run – I think that track didn’t suit him. He is down on the minimum with local rider Ben Looker riding. He won a Cup in 2019 on the Tony Pike trained Sacred Day. He would be keen to ride another feature winner in his home town.

Our Bambino (12) won the Cup Prelude and carried a mammoth 60 kilograms. Drops to the minimum here with Andrew Gibbons riding for trainer Pat Murphy. He is not without a genuine rough chance.

It is a very open race – I am thinking some of these other runners may just get the drop on the favourite Zoumon (2) late when the whips are cracking – in saying that he could just get out in front and bowl along and run them into the ground.

Selections:

9 – Outlandos
4 – Irish Sequel
2 – Zoumon
12 – Our Bambino
Rough chances – (3) Regal Lion and (7) Benuad

Race 8 THE KIRBY

The last race of the day - the traditional Kirby held on Cup Day. As normal they will go fast early – and then usually something runs home late.

It looks like a race between the two favourites – Omni Man (3) and Le Melody (6).

Omni Man, from the Waterhouse and Bott yards, won a midweek race last week at Kensington. He ran some super sectionals in that race and will be right in this contest. Barrier 12 will probably see him take a sit 2 pairs back behind the leaders. Rachel King will ride.

Le Melody (6) is trained by Cody Morgan and is undefeated first up – three starts, three wins. Kyle Wilson Taylor will ride. Has drawn well in barrier 7 and comes off an exciting trial at Muswellbrook after an eight week freshen up. I expect that they will come for this runner late on the day so it may be worth taking some of the $4.20 that is on offer now.

Remlaps Gem (1) is trained by David Vandyke and Ryan Maloney will ride. Despite the huge weight allocated he does have an impressive first up record and loves these short distances. Comes off a 23 week freshen up with a barrier trial under his belt – keep safe.

Classy Jaybee (4) is trained by Jeremy Sylvester and Aaron Bullock is riding. He resumes here after a 17-week spell and has the benefit of a recent barrier trial win.

Bel Academy (9) resumes after a 49-week spell. Has shown something in a recent barrier trial win here two weeks ago. Solid win and ran some time – maybe a roughie to upset the rest of these at $41.

Selections:

6 – Le Melody
3 – Omni Man
1 – Remlaps Gem
4 – Classy Jaybee
Rough chances – (9) Bel Academy
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Jockey’s Challenge

I think this will be an open affair on Cup Day – Rachel King, Aaron Bullock, Jimmy Orman and Kyle Wilson Taylor all have some nice rides. I am going for Jimmy Orman to get the job done – but clipping at his heels will be Aaron Bullock.

Early Quaddie (races 1 to 4)

5,7 / 1,2,3 / 1,3,7 /1,4,9,11 - cost is $72 to $1

Value Early Quaddie (races 1 to 4)

5 / 2,3 / 1,3 / 1,4,11 - cost is $12 to $1

Quaddie (races 5 to 8)

2,4,12 / 2,3,6,8 / 2,4,9 / 1,3,4,6,9 - cost is $180 to $1

Value Quaddie (races 5 to 8)

2,12 / 3,6 / 2,4,9 / 3,6 - cost is $24 to $

Treble (races 6 to 8)

2,3,6,8 / 2,4,9 / 1,3,4,6,9 - cost is $60 to $1

BIG 6 (races 3 to 8)

1,3 / 1,4,11 / 2,12 / 3,6 / 2,4,9 / 3,6 - cost is $144 to $1

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