John O’Shea and Tom Charlton will send Quietness to Grafton on Thursday, confident that their import can feature in the $200,000 Westlawn Finance Grafton Cup (2350m).
A five-time winner in England, her most recent win in the Northern Hemisphere was an impressive one when triumphing in a rating 105 2414m event at Beverly on August 31, 2024.
After finishing down the track in a rating 105 2414m event at Newmarket on October 5, the five-year-old Bated Breath mare was sold via the Tattersalls 2024 December mare sale before arriving in Australia.
Following trials at Royal Randwick and Rosehill Gardens in May, Quietness resumed when running a good third for Zac Lloyd to Loch Eagle in a 1600m Open Handicap at Royal Randwick on June 7.
Three weeks between runs, Quietness contested the Listed Tatts Gold Crown at Eagle Farm on June 28 and finished an eye-catching second for Tommy Berry when beaten a length by Miss Joelene.
“We’ve been very happy with the manner she joined us over here,” co-trainer Tom Charlton said.
“She is a very good-looking filly, very good-minded, and she has settled into everything very well.
“Her run first-up here was excellent, and she backed it up with an excellent second in the fillies and mares Listed (race) up at Eagle Farm.”
Charlton believes Quietness has improvement in her as they head toward Thursday’s Grafton feature.
“(She) probably is still doing a little bit wrong in the run, and she just wandered around up the straight, so I think there is probably improvement to come,” Charlton said.
“The step to 2350m should suit, as long as she can relax in that first part of the race, and there is no reason she won’t keep progressing.
“It’s obviously going to be a competitive race, but a race she should fit into well.”
Quietness is currently drawn in gate 8, and Andrew Adkins has been pencilled in for the ride.
Bookmakers have seen support for the import ($7 into $4.80 with TAB), who boasts great form on good tracks and over ground.
The current favourite is the Matthew Dunn-trained Belvedere Boys (Blake Shinn, $4.40) in what is an open Grafton Cup.
Grafton tips – July 17
Race 1: #1 Tara Jasmine
Race 2: #3 Punch One Out
Race 3: #2 Master Artist
Race 4: #2 Exoflow
Race 5: #3 Port Erin
Race 6: #11 Miss Jennifer
Race 7: #3 Quietness
Race 8: #3 Burning Bell
