Grafton preview: Tips, best bets and inside mail

Unsung trainer Mark Stewart won’t shy away from confronting the big guns in the Ramornie Handicap should his mare win at Grafton to qualify.

Signore Fox (white) winning last year’s Ramornie Handicap.

Inverell trainer Mark Stewart is only too willing to take on all comers in the time-honoured ­Ramornie Handicap with his underrated mare Righthere Rightnow should she win her way through via Sunday’s John ­Carlton Cup at Grafton.

“If she wins on Sunday she gets to go straight into it so even though it will be a very big step up in competition, it will be a great experience for a horse to go into the Ramornie,’’ he said.

Stewart’s former Victorian-housed mare has been on an upward trajectory since she arrived at his stables in October last year, winning three of her 10 starts under his management.

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The daughter of Cluster has upped the ante in more recent times, winning two of her last three in barnstorming style despite ­carrying big weights each time.

“She has hit some good form winning three of her last six,’’ Stewart said.

“We just wanted to see what she would do at her last start and she just came out and blitzed them again. She only just got a run in this race because it is an Open handicap but I am pretty sure she will be competitive.

“The rides have been brilliant and we were lucky enough to get Andrew Gibbons for Sunday. Andrew rode my horse Askew when he won at Tamworth and I thought he would be the best jockey to ride her because she needs a jockey that can ride with their legs as well, just to give her a little spur into the belly.’’

Righthere Rightnow is in some ways a reflection of Stewart himself, given that both are somewhat unsung and both boast ­tremendous strike-rates.

Stewart, the proverbial jack of all trades, has an enviable 18.6 per cent winners to runners with 37.1 per cent runners to placegetters.

“Things are going well,’’ he said.

“I am always looking for new owners to come on board with shares available in horses right now.’’

Stewart will use Sunday’s unofficial first day of the Grafton ­carnival to kick off the careers of two-year-olds All Beans and Pluck’s Touch.

All Beans, a relative of Guy Walter’s cult figure Courts In ­Session, finished an honourable fourth in his recent Tamworth trial.

“He is half brother to a horse I used to own called All Stand,’’ Stewart said.

“This is his first start but he does show a fair bit of pace. I don’t know that he will be as quick as All Stand, but it will be interesting to see what he can do on ­Sunday.’’

Pluck’s Touch, meanwhile, is reportedly a whole lot better than his underwhelming trial in the same heat on June 8.

“His work at home has been very good so I don’t know what to expect in a race with him,’’ the trainer said.

Pluck’s Touch – as his name suggests – is a son of Vinery’s miraculous Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Turf winner Pluck, out of an unraced granddaughter of Danehill.

SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 1 No. 8: COCO ROX

Exciting Matthew Dunn trained two-year-old who was tipped out after a Doomben debut placing. Trialling the house down over the border.

NEXT BEST

Race 8 No. 9: CHARMED PRINCESS

Been to Grafton four times for three wins and a third; the wins include the Grafton Guineas and the Prelude. In great shape.

VALUE BET

Race 7 No. 11: ALTERNATIVE FACTS

Peaks here third-up off a couple of meritorious runs; went OK in a Highway last start.

QUADDIE

Race 6: 2, 4

Race 7: 5, 11

Race 8: 5, 9, 11, 14

Race 9: 4

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Jeff Penza has happy memories of Grafton having ridden last year’s Ramornie winner Signore Fox.

Jeff Penza on Signore Fox after winning the Ramornie Handicap last year.

INSIDE MAIL: GRAFTON

RACE 1

Coco Rox is an above average filly from the Matthew Dunn stable who was tipped out after an honourable debut third at Doomben in early February. Two trials last month were both fantastic and by rights, she should be too good here. Dream Storm and Barney Rubble are both trained by Allan Kehoe and look like they will be winning plenty of races. Alf’s Magic is trained here and ran well at Ipswich on debut.

Bet: Coco Rox win.

RACE 2

Kindling Spirit is a first starter by the exceptional two-year-old sire Spirit Of Boom. This Tony Gollan-trained filly wasn’t fully tested when she finished a length and a quarter second to the aforementioned Coco Rox in her one and only trial at Deagon on May 18. Supreme Hero was a huge drifter on debut here in mid-February and ran accordingly. Expect more today. Mama Rocks is a big market watch.

Bet: Kindling Spirit win, quinella 7,9.

RACE 3

Lookonchina has placed at five of his eight starts, he has finished runner-up at all three runs here at Grafton and won’t get many better chances to get a well earned first win on the board. Drawn to do his thing up on the speed. Oakfield Warpaint is a better horse than his record would suggest. He does however need to step up now in this style of race but easily capable. Rise’N’Shine and Deep Thrillz are in the mix.

Bet: Lookonchina win, exacta 7 to beat 4

RACE 4

Lasting Kiss is trained by the prolific winning trainer Stephen Lee, this cleverly-named daughter of the mare Pouting has raced three times for a win and two seconds. She resumes here this afternoon off a trial win three weeks ago. Stablemate Sailing has a tidy CV of a win and five placings (one at Eagle Farm) from 10 starts. Go well. Mon Gypsy ran a huge race at Coffs at her first NSW for the astute horseman Neil Osborne.

Bet: Lasting Kiss win, box trifecta 3,5,7,8.

RACE 5

Previso was the first emergency for the Grafton Guineas but assuming that he runs here, he carries 53kg in a Class 1 compared to at least 53kg or maybe 55kg in a much harder race. Whatever the case, the son of Nicconi is building up to a peak performance for his relatively new trainer Ian Cook. Voodoo Crown made up considerable ground when she has her first run for Michael Costa in a Class 1 at the Sunshine Coast. Big chance. Claptone has the draw.

Bet: Previso each-way or of scratched Voodoo Crown each-way, box trifecta 2,3,4,13.

RACE 6

Kristen Buchanan is having a huge run at present and can add the Grafton Guineas to her tally here via Oakfield Arrow. This daughter of Press Statement has raced six times for two wins and two placings – she was also fourth in a very, very strong Class 2 at Scone on Cup day. Last start Warwick Farm winner Alighted has her first run for (new trainer) Tony Gollan and (new owner) Alan – Schillaci – Bell here. Can win. Full Press has been set for this for some time.

Bet: Oakfield Arrow win, exacta 2 to beat 4.

RACE 7

Alternative Facts is a stablemate of Plonka; the Star Witness mare is third-up and liable to peak too off a couple of much-better-than-they-look runs, the most recent of which was in a TAB Highway at Rosehill on May 22. Take note that the mare is one for one at this track and distance. Uprise is a bit of a heartbreaker in as much as he has only been able to win twice on his 20 starts with 10 placings, seven of them are seconds. Can medal. Dixie Can and Married To The Mob are contenders.

Bet: Alternative Facts win, Daily Double 1st leg (11), 2nd leg (4).

RACE 8

Charmed Princess is trained at Gosford but absolutely loves it here at Grafton. The Toby Newing-trained daughter of Casino Prince has made the trip four times returning home with three wins and a third. Among those wins are the Grafton Guineas Prelude and the Grand Final itself. Big run in town 13 days back. Northern Knight has a very ordinary draw which is the only real negative in what is otherwise a pretty compelling case for the son of Bon Hoffa. Patriot will be flying – always does.

Bet: Charmed Princess win, Northern Knight place.

RACE 9

Oakfield Cherokee is another of the Buchanan/McKenzie horses on fire at the moment. This particular gelding happens to be a full brother to Kris Lees’ Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Lucia Valentina. He is racing in great form and is one for one at this venue. Former Godolphin charge Polemic is ageless, not many horses win their 51st race start – by three lengths too. Flying Mojo has raced here twice for a win and a second.

Bet: Oakfield Cherokee win .