Grafton races Sunday: Preview, best bets and inside mail

Following a somewhat unlucky first-up run, a Stephen Lee-trained mare is ready to put her best foot forward and bounce back to winning form. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Trainer Stephen Lee is has some nice chances at Grafton on Sunday to push him closer to 800 career winners.

Ballina trainer Stephen Lee is closing in on 800 career wins and while most have been on his home track, Grafton has also been a happy hunting ground.

As the ever-popular carnival kicks off this weekend, Lee has a number of contenders to inch him closer to that training milestone.

Leading the way on Sunday is handy mare Chickerartie who heads to the Class 3 Handicap over 1115m a much fitter horse after her first-up run at her home track.

The four-year-old is coming off a midfield finish when resuming at Ballina on June 12 but Lee said there were excuses that day and he expects a better performance from her this time around.

“She got left at the gates and was chasing the entire way. She just didn’t get time to settle and then finish her race off,” Lee said.

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

“It was an on speed track that day. Once she was slow into stride, young Jai (Williams) couldn’t give her any peace had to chase her along.

“She has been working really well and I expect she will race a lot better this weekend.”

Prior to her spell, the daughter of Flying Artie scored back-to-back wins at Ballina and Lismore then found the track too hard at her next run before going for a break.

“She jarred up a bit at her last run. She really felt the track that day and she had come to the end of her preparation so she had a nice spell.

“Les (Tilley) is back on this weekend and he has won on her a couple of times. She will be a good each-way chance.”

Pratten Park has had a long campaign but continues to race well and Lee feels she is a good value chance in the Grafton Cup Quality Prelude over 2230m.

She was a winner at this track and similar distance (2200m) three starts back before a seventh to the exciting Fawkner Park at Doomben and a closing third at Lismore.

“She didn’t get a lot of room the other day at Lismore but she finished off well,” he said.

Jockey Les Tilley rides Chickerartie and Pratten Park for trainer Stephen Lee.

“She has been up a while and if she doesn’t perform well, she will go to the paddock for a spell but she hasn’t shown any signs that she has had enough.

“She is a bit of a roughie but I think she is an each-way chance as well.”

In the opening race, Lee has Cosmic Fortune engaged while he is also hoping Chase The Sun can gain a start.

Cosmic Fortune debuted with a nice third behind One Kind here at Grafton back in February before a spell and she resumed with a seventh at Ipswich on Cup Day where she did a few things wrong.

“She was very green the other day on Ipswich Cup Day but her first was great at Grafton. She got back a long way and flew home to run third.

“She is probably looking for a bit further so I have put the blinkers on her this week which is something I don’t normally do with two-year-olds.

“If she travels nicely and finishes off the way she did on debut, she will be thereabouts.”

Chase The Sun finished last behind One Kind at his only start but Lee said he is better than that.

“He just played up and was a real handful,” he said.

“We have gelded him and he has trialled nicely at the Gold Coast since then.

“He has drawn well and if he gets a start, I think he will run a nice race.”

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 2 No. 1: OLAKAU’ATU

Terrific run first-up after sitting wide and just going down at Coffs Harbour. Drawn out but back to his own age group and get a claim from Braith Nock.

NEXT BEST

Race 3 No. 2: CENOTES

Big effort last start and after being checked on the turn and coming again in the straight to finish third. Well placed to break through.

VALUE BET

Race 4 No. 16: TALONS

Nice effort first-up then made up good ground out wide for fourth second-up. Ready to peak.

BEST EXOTIC

Race 6 Quinella Nos 2, 3

QUADDIE:

Race 4: 2, 7, 8, 16

Race 5: 4, 11, 13

Race 6: 2, 3, 4

Race 7: 1, 2, 7, 12

Jockey Anthony Allen can kick the day off on a winning note. Picture credit: Greg Irvine, Magic Millions.

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW:

Anthony Allen has a couple of nice rides including Volcanic Love (race 1) and Olympic Class (race 6)

INSIDE MAIL - GRAFTON

RACE 1

Kermadec gelding Volcanic Love has shown terrific speed in winning his two trials by big margins. His latest was a four and a half length win at Grafton on June 10. Boambee Beach performed well above market expectations when she came from last out wide with a strong finish when a three-quarter length second to Tayla’s One at Taree on June 6. Drawn to settle closer. Cosmic Fortune was a handy third here at Grafton on debut in February. Will be better for her recent Ipswich run and the blinkers go on. Dusan is from the family of Giga Kick and won his Gold Coast trial impressively by three lengths.

Bet: Volcanic Love to win. Quinella/trifecta 1, 5, 6, 8

RACE 2

Olakau’atu was caught wide before closing off strongly for a half-length second to Baglioni when resuming at Coffs Harbour on June 16. Back to his own age group here and gets a 2kg claim with talented apprentice Braith Nock. Smart City has been very impressive winning two of his last three starts by big margins, the latest by four lengths in a Class 1 at Ballina on June 12. Deep Opinions charged home to score a stylish win over 1250m at Newcastle on May 30. Stepped up to a Bm72 Midway at Rosehill when seventh to Oakfield Waratah two weeks back. Bonjour Rupert was third to Baglioni last start and won’t be far away again.

Bet: Olakau’atu to win

RACE 3

Cenotes has placed in six of his seven starts. Lost ground near the 500m when checked and shuffled back to near last before picking up and closing off well for third behind Passionate Rebel who led most of the way. No doubt should have finished much closer. Drawn well here and gets his chance to break through. Merapi came from three back on the rails to finish second to Passionate Rebel. Will be in the finish again. Filthy Rich moved up to take the lead in the straight but just couldn’t hold out Crash’n’bash here on June 10. Drawn out but has place claims again. Diamondsaretrumps was third in that race and must be considered for the multiples.

Bet: Cenotes to win

Trainer Todd Howlett has Talons ready to peak third-up on Sunday. Picture: Grant Guy

RACE 4

Talons resumed from a long break with a second to the handy Remember Jack at Muswellbrook before coming from last out wide with a length and a half fourth to Bubbles For Me over 1100m at Scone on June 13. Looks suited stepping up top 1215m. Propel Motion was at his best last start when second last at Kembla on May 13. Closed well late along the rails when second to Restrictions at Gosford on Apr 25. Blue Acres made a winning start to his career leading all-the-way at Ballina on June 12. Rates highly again. Negation finished off well for third to Hot And Strong when resuming at Ballina on June 12.

Bet: Talons each-way

RACE 5

Chickerartie was slow into stride and was forced to chase all the way when fourth to the well-backed Uno Moon when resuming over 1000m at Ballina on June 12. Last time in she scored back-to-back wins at Ballina and Lismore leading all-the-way. Drawn nicely in gate 4 and can put her best foot forward. October Revolution fought on for a narrow win from Flash Prince at Port Macquarie before chasing In A Step home into second place at Taree on June 6. She’s Contrary has been good when runner-up in both runs back from a spell. Drawn out but will give another bold sight. Bow is in winning form and has claims.

Bet: Chickerartie each-way

RACE 6

Our Bambino appreciated a good tempo when he sustained a three-wide run from the 600m to score from Miss Faberge at Kembla on May 23. Was fifth to Fun Sunday at Canterbury last start after being eased at the 100m when the winner moved in as he went past. He will appreciate stepping up to 2230m. Olympic Class followed a third to Pepper’s ghost in the Grafton Cup Preview with a handy win over 2210m at Lismore last start. King Kikau won over 2100m at Tamworth back on Apr 21 before returning from a seven week break a sixth to Mon Amore over 1900m at Gosford. Will take improvement from that run. Pratten Park has won over 2200m and is worth thought.

Bet: Our Bambino to win. Quinella 2, 3

RACE 7

Standing Bear had the winkers applied for the first time and they did the trick when scored a big win from Ljungberg at Port Macquarie on May 29. He followed up with another smart win at the same track on June 18. He can bring up the hat-trick here. Proverbial returned this campaign with a well-deserved Highway win at Rosehill on June 3. Settled in the second half of the field behind a strong speed and charged strongly once clear passing the 200m. Classy local mare Tara Jasmine has recorded six of her eight wins here and three from five first-up. Drawn near the outside and may end up a scratching. Swanston hasn’t been far away at Doomben and Eagle Farm recently. Drawn to get a nice run.

Bet: Standing Bear to win