Grafton preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, April 13, 2025
As stable star Far Too Easy edges closer to his Winter Carnival return, trainer David McColm can land a winning double with Olivershare and Torovista at Grafton.
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Murwillumbah trainer David McColm has made a concerted change to the preparation of Torovista in a bid to make the most of the gelding’s strong early form.
Torovista has always been a terrific barrier trialler and has won two of his two of his three first-up runs since joining McColm in late 2023.
With that in mind, McColm has kept him as fresh as possible for his first-up run this weekend and hopes to carry it into his following races.
“He is usually quite dynamic in his trials and his first start,” said McColm.
“This time in, we thought we would get him fit and go straight to the races instead of using a trial. We will keep him on the fresher side and keep those efforts for his first few runs.”
The son of Toronado started his career in Victoria where he was unplaced in two starts before heading to McColm and scoring a first-up win at Lismore over 1526m.
2 races down at Scone and 2 winners for @AshMorgan6 ðŸ‘
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 18, 2024
Dances With Hooves a bit too good for them in the @tabcomau Highway.@camcrockettracepic.twitter.com/AN4lqaR3xI
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Sent for a spell, he returned with another first-up win, this time over 1400m at the Sunshine Coast last April.
The five-year-old kicks off in the Benchmark 66 Handicap (1420m) with Ben Looker on board.
“It is his ideal trip to start off over,” McColm said.
“He is one of those horses that likes to run. He is going into this race pretty well and if he can get into his rhythm, he will give a terrific sight.
“At his last run at Murwillumbah, the track was a really rock hard track which didn’t suit him and he jarred up quite badly.
“We opted to put him away and bring him back for the autumn and winter.
“He’s a horse who likes the sting out of the ground and it looks like he will get that this weekend.”
While McColm expects the gelding will figure prominently, he is even
More confident about the prospects of Olivershare.
The three-year-old debuted with a length-and-a-half sixth behind Neil at Grafton last November after racing in behind the leader.
“I have a bit of time for this horse and it was really good run on debut,” he said.
“He is one of those horses who takes a little bit of time to build into top speed but once he gets rolling, he will keep going
“In that race, he drew barrier 1 and raced on the fence.
The odds on favourite, Neil, leads all the way and wins the third at Grafton for @mattydunnracing! 👠pic.twitter.com/f9WIUOJf5L
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 25, 2024
“Michael Cahill said after that he should have let him slide and he would have been right in the finish.”
The son of Overshare looked very good in winning his Gold Coast barrier trial on March 25 and has drawn ideally in barrier 6 when he resumes in the Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1115m).
“He is a horse I am really confident in. This is a race that will really suit him.
“He went absolutely super in that trial and from the draw this weekend, I anticipate he will be midfield or maybe a length better and be ready to pounce.
“I’m going confident both will run very good races. Olivershare will be hard to beat and Torovista is a great each-way chance.”
McColm also reported that stable star and Kosciuszko winner Far Too Easy is close to resuming after winning both recent barrier trials.
“He will have one more trial and will kick off in the Victory Stakes at Eagle Farm on May 3,” he said.
“The BRC Sprint is his next target and hopefully he can get him into the Stradbroke.
“If we can get the weather go our way and he gets onto a wet track, then he is just dynamic.”
ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS
BEST BET
Race 3 No. 2: Jewels Statement
Will take improvement from her first-up third. Drawn ideally.
NEXT BEST
Race 2 No. 5: Olivershare
Handy run on debut and as trialled very well ahead of his return.
VALUE BET
Race 6 No. 4: Torovista
Goes well fresh likely to get his preferred wet conditions.
QUADDIE
Race 3: 1, 2, 6
Race 4: 4, 12
Race 5: 1, 3, 8
Race 6: 3, 4, 7
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Leading jockey Ben Looker can land a winning double and claim the TAB Jockey Challenge.
INSIDE MAIL – GRAFTON
Wannawinwin boxed on okay when fifth behind Tajawal at Taree two starts ago then stepped up in grade when she went to Wyong and was very good in finishing a length-and-a-half fourth behind Alpine Kandy. Returns to her favourite track and distance where she has won four of her five starts. Likabeel will find this easier than his last behind Roller Coaster at Eagle Farm last week where he raced flat. Won over 2200m at the Sunshine Coast two starts earlier then was forced wide at the 400m when eighth to Miss Dynamo at the same track. Merlin’s Melody has just one win from 11 starts over 1200m. Handy fifth to Roller Coaster at Eagle Farm.
Bet: Wannawinwin to win
Olivershare tracked the leader and only got clear in the straight when sixth to Neil over 1006m on debut here on Nov 25. Resumes off a stylish trial on the polytrack at the Gold Coast raced outside the leader and beat Without Rhyme by a half-length. Come On Glamour is a two-year-old debutant by Zousain from a half-sister to Group 1 winner, Elite Belle. Showed good speed to lead well off the fence to win her trial here by nearly three lengths on Mar 16. Homeland has three career placings which have come in his last four starts. His placings at his last two starts have been here when third to Platinum Gift and a second to Youthful Groove.
Bet: Olivershare to win
Jewels Statement was far too good for them on debut! pic.twitter.com/mWPUnU9hWT
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 25, 2024
Jewels Statement only failed once when last in the TAB Highway at Randwick but pulled up with a serious issue. Resumed from a lengthy break with a three length third to Great Barrier Reef at the Gold Coast where she didn’t handle the deteriorating track following a down pour. Will take benefit from the run. Dize was also coming back from a long spell and debuting for a new stable when she lead all-the-way for a length win from Sorrento Palace over 900m at Wellington on Mar 28. Speedy Target resumed for a new stable and trialled nicely when runner-up behind Perhaps Perhaps on the heavy at Port Macquarie on Mar 29. Is a first-up winner.
Bet: Jewels Statement to win
Lady Alabama ran a nice race on debut despite being a little green and laying out under pressure in the straight when second behind Platinum Gift here on Feb 24. She didn’t appear to handle the heavy track when a well beaten seventh behind Youthful Groove here on Mar 22. Can bounce back. Assent was first-up from a spell for a new stable when a two length second behind Leica Glove over 1200m at Coffs Harbour on Mar 2. Will take benefit from the run and a step up in trip is ideal for the son of Savabeel. Black Assassin closed smartly from near last when third behind Bold As Brass at the Gold Coast on Mar 22.
Bet: Lady Alabama to win
My Mum's Toyboy wins the Yamba Cup for Brett Dodson! 🆠pic.twitter.com/xFmrHTNAkY
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 16, 2025
My Mum’s Toyboy saves his best for Grafton where he has recorded four of his five career wins. Maintained his perfect record at this trip with a length win from Lady Wardell in the March Hare four weeks ago. Drawn ideally and hard to beat again. Majorelle was wide early before settling midfield when eight behind Ouroboros at Eagle Farm first-up. Will take improvement from the run and hasn’t missed a place from four second-up runs. Is a winner at this track. Fortyfive Parklane followed a nice second to Eagle Hawk Star at Lismore with a fourth to My Mum’s Toyboy here last start. Meets him 2kg better.
Bet: My Mum’s Toyboy to win
Torovista has three wins and four placings from 15 starts with his seven unplaced runs having all been on Good tracks although he has run some handy races in them. With rain forecast, he should get his preferred conditions. He goes well fresh with two first-up wins and hasn’t trialled this time in to keep his sharp. Red Red Wine ran a handy third to Zanardee’s Lane on Feb 4 before a close second to She’s Enuff three weeks later both at this track. Jumped inn grade when last of eight behind Demitasse at Doomben but was less than two lengths away. Monte Outlander followed a two length fourth behind Archer’s Game at Doomben with a nose third to Badgers Nuts at Coffs Harbour. Won’t be far away again.
Bet: Torovista each-way
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