Grafton best bets, inside mail for Friday, May 9, 2025

Far Too Easy’s trainer David McColm heads to Grafton with the promising three-year-old Olivershare aiming to post back-to-back wins. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Trainer David McColm has the progressive Olivershare shooting for back-to-back win at Grafton. Picture: Grant Guy

Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass provides his best bets and race-by-race analysis at Grafton on Friday.

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!

GRAFTON

BEST BET

Race 6 No. 6: OLIVERSHARE

Promising three-year-old who was impressive in his Maiden win last start. Progressive type.

NEXT BEST

Race 10 No. 3: SHAMADAN

Randwick placegetter from the Matthew Dunn camp. Easy to like here.

VALUE

Race 9 No. 3: HE’S A COPY BOY

Boasts some compelling numbers at the venue and handles the wet.

DAILY DOUBLE

1st Leg: 5, 2nd Leg 3

QUADDIE

Race 7: 1, 2, 11

Race 8: 1, 2, 5

Race 9: 3, 6, 10

Race 10: 3, 7

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Ben Looker arrives with 1,300 career wins; 259 of them at Grafton.

Ben Looker looks a good chance in the Jockey Challenge at Grafton. Picture: Bradley Photos

INSIDE MAIL - GRAFTON

RACE 1: Prestige Wedding & Event Hire (Bm58) 2245m

NATURE BOY (4) lines up for his 120th start having won his 119th here in a 2230m Benchmark 66 leading from start to finish under Emily Farr with two-and-a half-lengths back to the runner-up. Why not again? CHARMED DESTINY (9) is 0 from 23 on Good tracks but one win and two seconds from six runs on the Heavy. SOLAR POLAR (2) is a mudlark. Has to go the long trip.

Bet: Nature Boy to win, box trifecta 2, 4, 9

RACE 2: Tradelink Grafton Country Boosted Mdn Hcp 1435m

TEMPLE BELLS (4) is by More Than Ready’s son Pluck which probably accounts for his ability to perform on Heavy tracks. Three of his four career placings have been at his only runs this preparation and Peter Graham has been there for the last two. HOMELAND (1) has placed at half of his eight starts and finished with a medals at all three at Grafton.

Bet: Temple Bells to win, quinella 1, 4

RACE 3: Edwards Irrigation Consulting Mdn Plate 1030m

MAGNOLIA JEWEL (17) could be saved for Taree on Tuesday. She’s better than a five start, no wins, no placings racehorse. Trialled well. Speaking of trials, the former Price/Kent galloper ZOUANDME (6) really caught the eye in his Grafton Heat on April 13. In good hands. DIRTY DOES IT (11) will be better later and over longer but could get into the top handful.

Bet: Magnolia Jewel to win or of scratched Zouandme to win

RACE 4: Inspirations Paint Country Boosted (Bm58) 1030m

MONARCH EXPRESS (5) is a chance to wait for Murwillumbah on Monday. Top pick if here, otherwise all roads lead to LOVE RAT (16) who was most impressive when winning a good quality Benchmark 58 here on Feb 24. The Cathleen Rode-trained gelding resumes with a closing fourth to Zoom Outcome at Port Macquarie over 1000m. Last start Heavy 8 Grafton winner SNOW FALCON (9) is flying (pardon the pun).

Bet: Monarch Express to win or of scratched Love Rat each-way

RACE 5: P & L Cureton Cement Renderers Super Mdn 1205m

ENHANCE (19) has raced nine times for four seconds and a third. Some were at the provincials when Ryan/Alexiou had him. No doubt Enhance has the best form in the race but he is an unknown commodity on Heavy. HE’S POPLAR (2) could be absent. ROCK THE MACHINE (6) is unplaced in eight tarts but there are a couple of runs here at Grafton that make him a player.

Bet: Enhance to win, Rock The Machine to place

RACE 6: Something Special Weddings (Bm58) 1435m

OLIVERSHARE (6) has had two barrier trials and two starts but even that’s enough to know that he has a little bit of quality with a whole lot of promise. He didn’t win by far here first-up but it sure would have helped him in racecraft and confidence, etc. This is harder but barrier 1, Ben looker, David McColm training - tick, tick, tick. DAZZLING ROBERT (10) gets conditions to suit here.

Bet: Olivershare to win

RACE 7: Hip Pocket Workwear & Safety Grafton (Bm58) 1435m

HARDLEY GREY (1) has six wins and 21 placings from 56 starts, 12 of those placings are seconds. His most appealing stats are his numbers at the track and distance; 13 starts for two wins, two seconds two thirds. Nice race for him. CALDEDONIAN (2) won a Newcastle 1300m Maiden at just her fifth start, the third of this prep. Up in weight but down in class even though it is a Benchmark 58.

Bet: Hardley Grey to win, quinella 1, 2

RACE 8: Brett Bellamy Congratulations On 1000 (Bm82) 1435m

VEANDECHANCE (5) has raced four times on Heavy tracks for two wins and a third. One of those wins was at Canterbury in May 2022 when Matthew Dunn had her. The now Colt Prosser-trained mare was an easy winner under Ben Looker at Taree. BEAN FOGGY (1) goes well at the venue, the distance and on Heavy. Stablemate Collay’s Spirit who always improves second-up.

Bet: Veandechance to win, box trifecta 1, 2, 5, 9, DD 1st Leg 5, 2nd Leg 3

RACE 9: TLM Electrical (Bm58) 1635m

HE’S A COPY BOY (3) has raced here six times for a win and three seconds. The Ross Stitt-owned gelding races best at the mile and has won on Heavy. MERAPI (10) is trained at Taree and could perhaps be there on Tuesday. Has won at Grafton and two of his two wins were on Heavy. HAVIERON (6) has finally drawn a good barrier. This is well within his reach.

Bet: He’s A Copy Boy each-way

RACE 10: Lawrence Tavern (Bm58) 1205m

SHAMADAN (3) could be saved for next week but is on top if she comes. CHURCH ROCK (7) is a lightly-raced three-year-old who has placed here twice in four runs, one on Heavy. PICUPSTIXX (9) has raced here at home at 11 of his 13 starts, winning once and placed three times. Seems better on Good tracks but is actually bred to swim so not ruling him out.

Bet: Shamadan to win, if scratched Pickupstixx to place