This year’s Listed Ramornie Handicap (1200m) promises to be a terrific race, with some sensational metropolitan and country sprinters coming together in the $200,000 feature event.
Hosted at Grafton’s Clarence River Jockey Club, the Richard Litt-trained Barber (Dylan Gibbons) is the $4.80 favourite, with the five-time winner arriving at Grafton after recently competing in Listed and Group 3 class events.
A winner in the Listed $250,000 Takeover Target (1200m) at Gosford three starts back, the Warwick Farm-trained 4YO appears to be the class runner of the field.
The well-travelled Compelling Truth (Bailey Wheeler) from the in-form Mack Griffith yard is the top weight and a $6 chance.
A tough-as-nails country galloper, the 5YO won the Listed Hinkler Handicap (1200m) at Eagle Farm on June 14.
Boasting a storied career, Compelling Truth has wins in Quality races such as the Wagga Town Plate and Sir James Kirby, along with other country feature-race victories in the Bathurst Panorama and Coonamble Cannonball.
Money has arrived for the Matthew Dunn-trained Tribeca Star (Ashley Morgan), $8 into $4.80, with the 5YO first-up since finishing sixth in the $1 million Country Championships final at Randwick on April 5.
A five-time winner, Tribeca Star won a trial at Murwillumbah (1000m) on June 26 in preparation for the Ramornie.
A value runner that punters have supported is the Desleigh Forster-trained He’s Heaven (Luke Rolls), backed in $19 to $11.
Fresh off a good third placing in the Rockhampton Newmarket (1300m), the 5YO seven-time winner gets in nicely in the weights (54kg) and draw (gate 3).
The Ramornie Handicap headlines a massive day at Grafton, and the first day of the Clarence River Jockey Club’s two-day July Carnival.
Grafton tips – July 16
Race 1: #14 Vivika
Race 2: #9 Gold Puma
Race 3: #2 Bollinger Miss
Race 4: #6 Khor
Race 5: #2 Monarch Express
Race 6: #7 Zoutastic
Race 7: #1 Compelling Truth
Race 8: #2 Arrabbiata
