Guineas Prelude winner Swanston among favourites to double the dose in $80,000 three-year-old feature

Father and daughter duo Greg and Leah Kilner chasing more trainer-jockey glory after Westlawn Day double.

Trackwork rider Tayla Poy and jockey Leah Kilner with Volfoni and Swanton who will both race for the Greg Kilner stable at Ramornie Day.

While Grafton won’t be represented in the Ramornie Handicap, local hopes will be pinned on father and daughter duo, trainer Greg and jockey Leah Kilner, in today’s next biggest race, the $80,000 Tursa Grafton Guineas.

Stable star Swanston has won four races and placed four times from 14 starts heading into the 1600m three-year-old feature. The gelding gained direct entry by winning the Grafton Guineas Prelude (1240m) on Westlawn Day (June 27), and will carry 55.5kg with Leah once again in the saddle.

The son of Smart Missile paid healthy odds of $21 when he kicked ahead in the straight and held off higher-fancied rivals Oakfield Arrow ($2.80fav) and Alpha Go ($8) to the line.

“I thought Swanston was well over the odds,” Greg said of the prelude win. “Ridiculous odds on form, ran a place to a good horse (Adelaide’s Diamond) on the Gold Coast (May 12) on a very heavy track (heavy 10).”

After the recent square off, the Ladbrokes bookmakers have put Swanston ($10) on par with Oakfield Arrow ($9.50), behind Les Kelly-trained favourite Tamilaide ($3.40), on the eve of the Grafton Guineas. However, the wider draw out of barrier ten has connections concerned.

“I give him a really good each way chance, for sure,” Leah said of Swanston from the family’s stables at Cuban Song Lodge yesterday.

“He loves Grafton, he has a really good record here, and he can run a mile.

“I hope the track stays a little bit wet for him, because he likes the sting out of the ground.

“He’s just drawn a bit awkward, so I don’t know what we’re going to get. He’s a horse that does like the fence. But he tries his heart out, so he’ll be thereabouts.”

Swanston’s win completed a double for the Kilners on the opening day of the carnival, after Volfoni ($14) stormed home on the outside from the rear of the field in the Westlawn Insurance Brokers Class One Handicap (1215m).

Volfoni has also drawn wide (15) in today’s last race at Clarence River Jockey Club, the Grafton Taxis Benchmark 58 Handicap (1400m).

“He’s drawn extremely wide and he’ll have to go back,” Lead said.

“He’ll probably be last again like he was the other day. Just let him work into it and let him find the line again.

“The track has been playing a little bit leader-ish. Hopefully on the main days I’m sure the rail will be back in the true and everything will get the chance.

Fast Thinker (left) wins from Volfoni (right) and Igor (centre) at Gold Coast Turf Club on December 12, 2020. Picture: Greg Irvine/Magic Millions

“He will be second up, hopefully he doesn’t suffer from second up syndrome, but I think he’ll be right.

“He’s a horse that really loves racing. He’s probably not blessed with the most of ability, but he just puts in 110 per cent every time he goes round. He’s a bit of a stable favourite, he just does whatever you want him to do and just tries every time to put him around.”

The wins to Swanston and Volfoni almost doubled the stable’s 2020-21 season tally, with just three - including two to Swanston - prior to Westlawn Day.

Leah Kilner after her win on Glorious Ruby at the Sunshine Coast. Picture: Trackside Photography

Meanwhile, Leah is tied with Matthew McGuren as virtual leaders in the race for the Jockey of the Carnival, with a pair of second placings on Scilago in the Grafton Cup Prelude and Hit The Target in the South Grafton Cup to go with her two wins.

“It’s always really good to get a winner in carnival time, because everyone’s watching and you’re a little bit more pumped up,” she said.

“But at the end of the day it is work, and you’re trying to win every race you can.”

Jockey Leah Kilner pushed Glorious Ruby to victory in the race 3 2YO classic plate (1200m) at the Sunshine Coast Cup raceday. Picture: Tom Threadingham

She will ride Scilago again in the CPSU NSW Wage Growth Rural Plate Class 6 (2200m) today for Gold Coast trainer Leon Elliott.

“He run really well when second in the Cup Prelude,” Leah said.

“They decided not to go to the cup and put him in the 2200 on Ramornie Day. He’s only a little horse but he tries really hard and it’s not a very strong race, so I give him a really good chance.

“I’ve got three really nice rides tomorrow.”

The Grafton track was rated a soft six on the eve of Ramornie Day.

The first race of the day is the Winning Edge Presentations 4YO&Up Class 2 Handicap (1600m) at 12.29pm, the Guineas run at 3.24pm and the Ramornie at 3.59pm and the last at 4.34pm.