Grafton preview: Jockey Dylan Gibbons aims to follow in his father’s footsteps with Ramornie Handicap glory

From schoolboy memories to racing aspirations, Dylan Gibbons sets his sights on joining his father, Andrew, with victory in the Ramornie Handicap when he partners the talented Barber.

Dylan Gibbons partners race favourite Barber in the Listed Ramornie Hanbdicap. Picture: Getty Images

Dylan Gibbons can vividly remember dashing home from school to tune into the races and watch his dad, Andrew, win the time-honoured Ramornie on Jerezana.

The Peter Snowden-trained and Godolphin raced mare came from well back with a strong run down the outside to score by a length fro Falco Star and Motspur in 2011.

“A lot of people know how much time I spent as a kid going to the races with Dad,” said Gibbons.

“So far in his career, the Ramornie’s his only black type winner so it holds an extra special place in our family’s heart.

“I wasn’t there when he won it. I was at school but I remember rushing home to my grandparents’ house and watching it with them.

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“That’s still a nice, cool memory I have of the race.

“I’d love to win a Ramornie. There are a lot of Listed races on the calendar but it is right up there.

“I always pay extra attention to this race and it would be great if I could join him as a winner in it.”

Gibbons will look to add his name to the honour roll when he partners the Richard Litt-trained Barber in the Grafton District Services Club Ramornie Handicap (1200m).

Coincidently, Barber is a former Godolphin horse who joined the Litt stable after being bought on Inglis Digital in December for $215,000.

The son of Exceed And Excel picked up $141,000 in winning the Listed Takeover Target at Gosford second-up and is a big chance of adding the $109,000 first prize this week.

“The writing is on the wall with his form. He’s an ultra-consistent sprinter and he is proven at this Listed grade as well,” Gibbons said.

“He’s a beautiful horse and a great mate of mine, Jason Micallef, of Monarch Racing is the syndicator of him.

“Obviously, Richard (Litt) has a lot of luck with the ex-Godolphin horses so there’s a lot of positives there.

“It’s all shaping up very well and he’s drawn a lovely alley on (barrier) 4 while a lot of the other key dangers have drawn out so there’s a lot of reasons to like him.”

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Gibbons has a good chance in the day’s other feature, the Grafton Guineas (1600m), after picking up the ride on the Wayne Brown-trained Ronny Bee.

The son of Justify announced himself as a chance in the Guineas after a smart win in the Prelude on July 6.

“This probably isn’t the strongest Grafton Guineas we have seen,” he said.

“He comes off winning the Prelude and he has a nice, light weight.

“It’s probably the right time for him to be targeting the Guineas with a horse like him who is in good form.

“He puts himself on speed and from the gate, he looks to get a nice run.”

Gibbons also teams up with Peter Snowden when he rides Behtar in the Class 6 Plate (2200m).

The imported gelding is yet to place in eight Australian starts with his best a fourth behind Flying Bandit over 1800m at Hawkesbury on April 9.

“He a horse who showed good ability before coming to Australia but just hasn’t shown in down here,” Gibbons said.

“He probably had a tricky benchmark for Peter to be able to get him in form but I think a Class 6 Plate in the bush is the right race.

“It’s smart placement and hopefully we can see him produce what they hoped he would when they first purchased him.”

Gibbons and Snowden will also combine with Touristic in the Listed Grafton Cup (2350m) on Thursday.