Grafton Cup carnival kicks off with a bang
By John Schell
The Grafton Cup carnival kicks off on Sunday with the first of five meetings over 15 days looking like a classy day of racing.
Lead up events to the Grafton Cup, Ramornie Handicap and Grafton Guineas will all be contested, and Clarence River Jockey Club chief executive Michael Beattie is expecting a great day.
Ashley Morgan will combine with trainer Brett Cavanough for four rides at Grafton on Sunday.Credit: Getty
“We have a horse like Fender lining up in the Clocktower Hotel John Carlton Cup Quality (1195m) and he’s been placed in two Ramornie Handicap’s and also been placed in The Kosciuszko,” Beattie said. “For a horse of his quality to be lining up on day one of our carnival, it just shows how strong the carnival is shaping to be.
“The Herb Blanchard Haulage Grafton Cup Quality Prelude has drawn together a solid line up with a number of classy horses, while the Hodder Cleaning Services Grafton Guineas Prelude 3YO Benchmark 66 Handicap (1425m) also has drawn together a good field.”
Top Murwillumbah trainer Matthew Dunn will saddle up Military Award in the Guineas Prelude with Ashley Morgan to ride.
Coffs Harbour trainer Sally Taylor has Mindspace in the Grafton Cup Prelude with the gelding having won three of his latest five starts.
Fender has a wide barrier to contend with in his event, with Morgan also taking the ride for trainer Brett Cavanough.
Morgan will combine with Cavanough for three other rides on Sunday. Dravid is the first of them in the McKimms Real Estate 2YO Springboard Prelude Maiden Plate (1020m). He will also be on Sirius Flyer in the Southside Pharmacy Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1725m) and More Than A Star in the Grafton Gas & Plumbing Country Boosted Belflyer Prelude Class 3 Handicap (1120m).
“It’s good to have a leading stable like Brett Cavanough’s bringing a number of good chances to the start of the carnival,” Beattie said. “And when you add to that trainers like Toby Edmonds bringing down a number of good chances from the Gold Coast, then it makes for a great start to what is always a great month of racing in Grafton.”
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