Best bets and inside mail for Grafton on Monday September, 9

Racenet and The Daily Telegraph’s Shayne O’Cass analyses Monday’s card at Grafton, where a Matt Dunn-trained galloper looks suitably placed for a first-up assignment.

Ben Looker has ridden exactly 250 winners at Grafton heading into Monday’s meeting.

Racenet and The Daily Telegraph’s Shayne O’Cass analyses Monday’s card at Grafton, where a Matt Dunn-trained galloper looks suitably placed for a first-up assignment.

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GRAFTON TIPS

BEST BET

Race 3 No. 15: Top Act

Placed in all four runs, three here, the other one at Doomben. Trialling like a bomb lately.

NEXT BEST

Race 2 No. 12: Torque Tothe Stars

Another from the Matthew Dunn yard trialling like a win is imminent.

VALUE

Race 4 No. 1: Eagle Hawk Star

Has some zeroes against the name but there weren’t bad runs in good races.

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QUADDIE

Race 5: 1,3,4

Race 6: 1,6,7

Race 7: 5,10,12

Race 8: 1,3,9

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JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Ben Looker’s tally of winners at Grafton currently stands at exactly 250.

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RACE-BY-RACE ANALYSIS

RACE 1 - MAIDEN PLATE (1720m)

KITSILANO (3) runs more good races than bad; in fact the son of Vancouver has four placings from 12 starts, one of them was at his only previous attempt at this same track and trip. He is very fit and looks like he wants the 1720m now. HIGH CLASS ROLLER (10), a seventh generation descendant of the great Chicquita, should stay the trip if his dam-sire Starcraft has passed on any of his AJC Derby winning stamina. MAX O’MAX (4) was a narrow loss here over 1700m on Aug 31.

Bet: Kitsilano to win.

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RACE 2 - MAIDEN PLATE (1015m)

TORQUE TOTHE STARS (12) will be ridden by Ben Looker, and there is nothing like an experienced jockey on a debutante, but keep in mind that Looker has ridden exactly 250 winners at Grafton. Wow! All three trials contained merit, the last one was a beauty. Stablemate STAVRITZEL (5) has placed in all three runs for Matthew Dunn. Bit costly last time but he ran into one of Chris Waller’s. AMAYA’S SECRET (10) was inches off landing some good bets ($21 into $16) here on August 20.

Bet: Torque Tothe Stars to win, quinella 5,12, box trifecta 5,9,10,12.

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RACE 3 - MAIDEN HANDICAP (1190m)

TOP ACT (15) will have barrier one if she starts which hopefully should see her handy behind the speed waiting to make her charge late in the piece. The Matt Dunn trained daughter of Trapeze Artists has placed in all four runs, three here, the other at Doomben. Trialling super. HE’S POPLAR (1) could be saved for elsewhere but wherever he goes, always remember that he ran a huge fourth on debut. HIGH AND MARTY (3) showed some positive signs first-up.

Bet: Top Act to win. Best bet of the day.

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RACE 4 - BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1190m)

EAGLE HAWK STAR (1) has an eight and two zeroes alongside his name in three starts this preparation but they were all actually not too bad, even good you might say. He was only beaten 3-1/2 lengths at Doomben and the Highway run was pretty decent under the circumstances. AMNESIA (4) was a decisive first-up winner at Lismore. She was a beaten favourite at Gatton after that but she wasn’t outright bad, just costly. HARDLEY GREY (3) rounds out the placings.

Bet: Eagle Hawk Star to win.

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RACE 5 - BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1015m)

LADY TULESSA (1) is the proverbial bonny mare for John Shelton and connections. It is no mean feat to win seven races and placed 12 times from 42 starts. Plainly, the short trips are her go and she has won three times in seven runs here at home - including her last one - beating the consistent SEPTEMBER GIRL (7) who lines-up as well. DE FORZA (6) is by far the least experienced horse in the field. He’s only had two runs, one was a close and brave second which he followed with a close and brave win here.

Bet: Lady Tulessa to win, box trifecta 1,4,6,7.

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RACE 6 - CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (2230m)

MONTE KAHUNA (5) has only managed a win, a second and a third from 16 starts but he has finished worse than fifth, only twice, in his nine runs since being relocated to Coffs Harbour. Best of all, the Noel Mayfield-Smith galloper was a convincing last start winner at Tuncurry over 2150m. HOTZINO (10) is by Victoria Derby winner Tarzino and has been afforded the absolute textbook step up to 2230m. Time to start delivering, WICKED GAMES (12) is an out-and-out 2000m-plus horse.

Bet: Monte Kahuna to win, exacta 5 to beat 10, Daily Double 1st Leg (5), 2nd Leg (9).

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RACE 7 - BENCHMARK 66 HANDICAP (1420m)

WONDERWHEN’s (1) numbers tell it better than any words can; 12 starts at Grafton for three wins and 10 placings. Three starts at the track and distance for a win, a second and a third. He ran a huge race first-up at Kempsey then was runner-up here in the Mother’s Gift (tick) and wasn’t all that bad in the Casino Cup. NICKELBACK (2) has been a costly horse to follow at times but he’s been quite consistent throughout. Has a good draw for this (again). FRAPPES (6) is a contender.

Bet: Wonderwhen to win, exacta 1 to beat 2.

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RACE 8 - CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1115m)

PRESSALONG (9) was $4 into $3.60 when she made a winning debut at Casino over 1000m on the Cup day card. It is notoriously hard to win the Class 1 straight after but she might well be up to the challenge. Local gelding PICUPSTIXX (3) has raced five times, all of them here at home. Most of them were pretty good, the last one was a beauty behind My Mum’s Toyboy. YELLOWHAMMER (1) can improve dropping sharply in grade.

Bet: Pressalong to win or if scratched Picupstixx to win.

Originally published as Best bets and inside mail for Grafton on Monday September, 9