Grafton preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, December 1, 2024

A step up in distance has trainer Stephen Lee confident both Church Rock and Caracoron will show their best form on a quick back-up at Grafton.

Trainer Stephen Lee saddles up a couple of leading contenders at Grafton.

Trainer Stephen Lee isn’t worried about the quick back-up two of his runners face, in fact, he feels it will have them spot on as they look to land their first career wins.

The loss of a number of race meetings due to wet weather has made programming a challenge and it would have been near five weeks between runs for Church Rock and Caracoron had they not raced at Grafton last Monday.

“We had some washed out meetings and I had no alternative but to start them off there,” said Lee.

“They were running in races last start over a distance that was a little bit short for them but I thought they raced quite well.”

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

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!

Both Church Rock and Caracoron had kicked off their campaigns with third placings at Grafton on October 29 but had to wait until November 25 to have their next runs.

Church Rock had to do it tough from a wide gate last week when trapped four-wide before finishing sixth behind Neil over 1006m.

“He was caught wide the other day and I thought he finished off well. He was only beaten a length-and-a-half,” Lee said.

“It was no fault of Shae’s (Wilkes). He drew a bad barrier, gate 10 out of 10.

“She didn’t push him forward, she just kept him travelling nicely and I thought he fought on well.”

The three-year-old step up to a more suitable distance when he contests the Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1400m).

“He is screaming out for the 1400m,” he said.

“He has pulled up really well and I think he is a genuine chance.”

Caracoron settled well back and was spotting the leader about eight lengths before finishing fourth lengths behind Chillcuz over 1400m last Monday.

The son of dual Derby and Caulfield Cup winner Mongolian Khan will appreciate stepping up in distance when he tackles the Maiden Handicap (1700m).

“I was quite happy with his first-up third over the 1400 metres and I think the Good 3 track was a bit hard for him at Grafton the other day. He didn’t enjoy that at all,” he said.

Her second time at the races sees Chillcuz gets her first win on the board! @Leesracingpic.twitter.com/9GtmrvYTCM

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 25, 2024

“He is also screaming out for more ground this horse.

“He went over 2500 metres in the first preparation in Victoria when Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr had him and they are not mugs so they obviously felt he would run a trip.

“He is looking for the extra trip and the sting out of the ground and he gets both of those things this weekend.

“He’s a nice horse in the making and I’m sure he can be right there in the finish.”

Lee’s third runner for the day is lightly-raced five-year-old gelding Jive Turkey who resumes in the Maiden Plate (1100m).

The son of Zoustar showed he was in for a good preparation when he led all-the-way to win his barrier trial at Grafton back on October 29 from The Finest Hour and Firecube.

“He’s a very big horse and is going to want further but I do think he can cheeky race first-up.

“His trial a few weeks ago was really good. Shae rode him and she was very happy with him. She said he did it all on his own.

“This race is a bit short of his best distance but he ran really well over 1100 metres first-up last preparation when he ran third at Grafton.

“He won’t mind the sting out of the track and I think he’s a really good each-way chance.”

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 7 No. 13: Break Free

Took her smart trial form to the races for a debut win. Drawn nicely and can go back-to-back.

NEXT BEST

Race 1 No. 3: Church Rock

Good effort after being trapped wide throughout here last week. Extra trip is ideal.

VALUE BET

Race 3 No. 2: Bold Hoi Ho

Dropping back in grade from a handy fourth in the Kempsey Cup.

BEST EXOTIC

Quinella Race 6: 5, 7

QUADDIE

Race 4: 1, 5, 7

Race 5: 1, 3, 4

Race 6: 5, 7

Race 7: 7, 13

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Danny Peisley looks a great chances of landing a race-to-race double.

Jockey Danny Peisley can land a winning double at Grafton. Picture: Bradley Photos

INSIDE MAIL – GRAFTON

RACE 1

Church Rock is on a quick back-up after finishing sixth to Neil over 1006m here last Monday after being trapped four-wide without cover and beaten just a length-and-a-half. It was his first run for a month He will appreciate the step up to 1400m. Golden Copper is knocking on the door. He was taken on in front when second to Hypothermia here two starts back before a second to long odds-on favourite Powerful Dragon at Kempsey. Rock The Machine stepped up to 1410m last start and ran an improved race when fourth to Chillcuz last Monday.

Bet: Church Rock to win

RACE 2

Noctilucent battled away on debut when fourth to Laridae over 1300m at the Gold Coast on Oct 19. Stepped up to 1650m when just pipped by Dulverton Charm at Beaudesert. Blinkers come off. Caracoron ran a handy race first-up when third over 1400m on a Soft 7 but wasn’t suited by the Good 3 when down the track behind Chillcuz last week. Will appreciate sting out of the track and the step up to 1700m. King’s Warrior will take improvement from his debut fourth at Ipswich over 1710m on Nov 7. The blinkers go on.

Bet: Noctilucent to win

It's a hometown win in the Kempsey Cup! The Tony Ball-trained Xtra Approval roars clear with a visibly thrilled Siena Grima in the saddle 🏆 pic.twitter.com/jZaEZ1ddGg

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 8, 2024

RACE 3

Bold Hoi Ho was a handy second to My Mum’s Toyboy in a Bm66 here before working home well from second last to finish fourth behind Xtra Approval in the Kempsey Cup over 1450m. Back in grade and looks like he will appreciate the step up to the mile. Contreras has had a mix preparation but he does race well here where he has a win and a third from three runs. That third was when he dropped back in trip to the mile. Drops in grade and drawn well. Maurizma is coming off a handy win over this track and distance. Drops in weight.

Bet: Bold Hoi Ho each-way

RACE 4

Hardley Grey has had a long campaign stretching back to May but is racing very consistently and knocking on the door for another win. Placed four of his last five including a second to Saxinoue over this track and distance here last Monday. Drawn well and gets his chance. Hypothermia travelled strongly back in the field and ran on down the outside to break his maiden from Golden Copper over 1410m here on Oct 29 before working home near the rails when fifth at Armidale. Celebrity’s Beau has claims on his closing third to Saxinoue here last week.

Bet: Hardley Grey to win

RACE 5

Casino Bear is racing well and looks a good chance to add a second win to his record. Boxed on for a handy third behind Tanglewood Jimmy at Taree two starts ago before backing up six says later with a third to Pasima at Wyong last weekend. More Saintly was carried wider in the straight when fourth to Mr Tadashi over 2110m at Lismore before jumping up to 2670m when fourth behind Zaynudin at Ballina on Nov 4. Freshened for the drop back to 2200m. Nature Boy dropped back in Grade and broke through over this trip at Bowraville.

Bet: Casino Bear to win

Congrats to the connections of Kia Ora-bred and sold entire Pasima, who recorded an easy front-running 2L win for the @cmaherracing stable at Wyong today 👏

📝 - Dam Ravi is in foal to G1 Champagne Stakes winner Captivant#KiaOraStud#M3pic.twitter.com/jTgFRzpUb8

— Kia Ora Stud (@kiaorastud) November 23, 2024

RACE 6

Aged Care was a handy second to Shall Be on debut at Newcastle before a fourth to Overfull in the Inglis 2YO Challenge at Scone. Was third to Generous Harry first-up at Newcastle last month and has trialled since. Enhance makes his debut for the Edmonds and McLean stable. Form at the provincials was good with placings at his three runs this campaign. Was third to Luxe Eternal at Hawkesbury two runs back before a second to Straand Beauty at Wyong last time out. Corvalist resumed from a lengthy spell with a third to Thrownunderthebus here on Oct 22. Will take benefit from the run.

Bet: Aged Care to win

RACE 7

Break Free was impressive winning both her barrier trials either side of a spell. Latest was by nearly four lengths at Deagon on Oct 29. Took that form to her first start at the Sunshine Coast when a two length winner from Oohlalouvre on Nov 10. Drawn well and the one to beat. Rum Diary is resuming off two nice trials, the latest a third at Muswellbrook on Nov 15. Placed in both previous first-up runs. Nice win on a heavy track at Taree last campaign. Exorealm has been just behind the placegetters in both runs back from a spell.

Bet: Break Free to win