An Owen Glue-trained gelding can get punters off to the right start at Grafton on Saturday, where jockey Ben Looker is hoping to knock off a major riding milestone.
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BEST BET
Race 1 No.3 DAZZLING ROBERT: Runner-up at three of his seven career starts; one on heavy, and has trialled sweetly.
NEXT BEST
Race 2 No.3 CREDIT CONTROLLER: Only win was here at home. Closed well in run third at his last two at Grafton recently.
VALUE
Race 5 No.3 FLYBALL: Wasn’t all that bad at Taree last start over 1900m, maybe back in trip is the key.
QUADDIE
Race 7: 1,6,9
Race 8: 5,7,9
Race 9: 2,6,7
Race 10: 4,5,10
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Ben Looker is on 247 wins at Grafton and should get to the 250 with any luck.
INSIDE MAIL – GRAFTON
RACE 1: Maiden Handicap (1030m)
DAZZLING ROBERT (3) has finished runner-up at three of his seven starts. One of those seconds was on a Heavy 8 at Lismore. Might be short of his best trip today but he is first-up from a good stable and the trial was a beauty. Ditto some of that for PAL’S REIGN (1) who has a terrible draw to contend with on debut he trialled so well. AQUAFIRE (7) was very brave indeed on debut here given the wide run from the draw.
BET: Dazzling Robert to win.
CREDIT CONTROLLER (3) is a Grafton local these days; for the record the filly has raced six times (out of 10 (career starts) for Shannon Manwarring and has been pretty good in all of them and very good in a few of them. Bursting to win again. Same goes for COSMIC FORTUNE (4) who was inches away from beating Vetoed here in a similar style race here on May 16. BROWNED OFF (5) has done enough (and on rain affected going) to figure in the outcome.
BET: Credit Controller to win, exacta 3 to beat 4, box trifecta 3,4,5,6.
HARDLEY GREY (2) has raced 34 times for four wins and eight placings which makes him a fairly appealing each-way bet whenever he races. The Owen Glue-trained gelding ran seventh of 12 at Murwillumbah first-up but he went a lot better than that. Fitter, up in trip and handles all conditions. ROSE BETWEEN THORN (3) has raced twice at the track/trip for a win and a second. ISLEDON (7) has the draw to race prominently again.
BET: Hardley Grey to win, quinella 2,3.
CASEBOLT (7) is a very valuable filly given her breeding; she is by Flying Artie out of the NSW trained Flemington Listed winner Kentucky Miss. This Matthew Dunn-trained bay stuck to her guns when bogged down somewhat on that Heavy 10 at home last start. Nicely placed here. MONTE KAHUNA (2) turned in a career PB here last start on the Heavy 8. Go well again. Matthew Dunn’s ‘other one’ MORE ELEMENTS (3) was just behind Casebolt over the line last time.
BET: Casebolt to win.
FLYBALL (3) was $5 into $4.20 at Taree (for the record, it looked a borderline good thing on paper IMHO) but clocked in well down the order. That said, he wasn’t beaten all that far. It was 1900m first time on a Heavy 9 there so we may have to be a bit forgiving. INTROVERT (1) is getting out to a trip now where he becomes most effective. Gets in well after the 4kgs claim.
BET: Flyball to win, quinella 1,3.
GLOBAL SENSATION (4) may have only managed two wins in 34 starts but to his credit, he has raced at this track and distance three times for a win and a third. On top of that, his wins are on Soft and Heavy and he’s placed 10 times, 5 of them seconds. CROWN’M (7) is an infrequent winner himself, one from 67, but he’s placed 10 times as well and most important of all, that lone win was here at Grafton.
BET: Global Sensation to win, Crown’M to place.
LAGOON (9) is one of the more interesting runners on the card. The daughter of Lean Mean Machine was spelled after finishing seventh and sixth at her only two starts at her first prep, the last run was actually quite good. Never let off the bridle in her trial. Market watch for her and FRISKEE FROG (1), a good stamp of a horse by Kermadec in an astute yard and a good draw to kick off the new campaign.
BET: Lagoon to win, exacta 9 to beat 1.
BRING ME TO LIFE (7) is trained here by Tony Newing. The son of Tavistock has only won once in 19 starts but the win was at Grafton. Despite only winning that single race, he is in fact a very consistent gelding and is knocking on the door. Same for Bad Boy Darby (9) who came from a mile back to run fourth over 1000m last start which sets him up for the 1205m now.
BET: Bring Me To Life to win, exacta 7 to beat 9, Daily Double 1st Leg (7)., 2nd Leg (10).
EAGLE HAWK STAR (7) was $51 into $31 in that TAB Highway at Randwick on May 25 and ran a huge race! The Ballina-housed son of Star Turn was 12th of 15 at the turn and a rapidly diminishing three and a half lengths from the winner at the post. CRITICAL TIME (6) is 2 for 2 for Scott Henley and 1 for 1 at this track and distance. Loves the slop.
BET: Eagle Hawk Star to win, quinella 6,7.
LA QUINTA DONNA (10) is raced by the famous and historic Lyndhurst Stud, the farm where the great Eye Liner was born and raised (among others). This Brett Bellamy-trained daughter of Pierro has a win and 7 placings from her 17 starts. Like most of the Pierro breed, she loves the wet tracks and she will appreciate getting back to Grafton with its long straight. ARTIE AG EITILT (4)’s best run, outside of his Merriwa Maiden win was at Grafton.
BET: La Quinta Donna each-way.