Grafton preview: Tips, best bets and inside mail

Trainer Tony Newing targets the Grafton carnival every year and always has his horses ready to perform at their best.

The likelihood of a Heavy 10 track on Sunday doesn’t faze the Central Coast conditioner and he expects his runners to all figure prominently with former Godolphin gelding, Camp Rifle, his best chance.

The four-year-old has had two runs back from a spell where he has been just behind the placegetters and has drawn to get a perfect run in the Grafton Hire Class 3 Handicap over 1408m.

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“He’s had two runs on heavy tracks while he didn’t place in either one, his runs were quite good,” Newing said.

“He ran fourth on a Heavy 8 in the $125,000 race at Rosehill to Splintex.

“His final run last campaign was on a Heavy 8 at Port Macquarie where he finished fifth but he probably should have won that day. He just didn’t have any luck.”

Newing admitted he was a shade disappointed with the gelding’s fourth at Nowra last start but expects him to be better this time out.

“He did look the winner the other day but just wasn’t too willing which was a little disappointing,” he said.

“I’m hoping, now that he has got that run under his belt, he is a bit fitter and will want to stick his neck out.

“This does look an ideal race for him.

“I have no doubt he is the best horse in the race on Sunday and if he wants to race to his true ability, he will win.”

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Newing is hoping there are some key scratching in the Maiden Handicap over 1005m after Kohinoor Lustre came up with barrier 16.

He has a good opinion of the three-year-old filly but doesn’t want to see her over-race like she did on debut and leave herself a sitting shot.

“I’m not worried about the heavy track for her, I just don’t want the same results as her first start when she was over doing it in front.

“She did too much work leading the other week and had nothing left at the finish.

“In her particular case, I think who scratches is more important than how many come out. The speed map will be important.

“If she can get a soft enough run, I think she is a realistic chance. She is certainly capable of winning.”

Newing’s third runner is Cosmic City in the final event he expects him to run well but said there was still improvement to come after the gelding was off the scene for 20 months.

“He had a very long time off and I knew he would take plenty of improvement out of that first-up run and he has done just that.

“He really has come on nicely and is going to improve again with this run under his belt.

“I expect he will be thereabouts and could sneak into the placings.”

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 7, No.3: AUSBRED COOEE

Resumed from a break with a stylish win over 1400m on a soft track at Coffs Harbour on June 18. Was placed over 2000m at Hawkesbury his two previous starts.

NEXT BEST

Race 3, No.3: LUCKY ENUFF

Has improved with each run back from a spell. Was a handy second here two starts back before winning at Coffs Harbour on the heavy last time out.

VALUE BET

Race 4, No.2: CAMP RIFLE

Drawn to get an ideal run and will be ready to peak third-up. Will have no problems with the heavy track.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 2, 3, 5

Race 5: 1, 5, 6, 9

Race 6: 1, 2, 5, 7, 12

Race 7: 3, 4, 9

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Andrew Mallyon has rides several leading contenders Hudoo Vudoo, Sacred Zim and Field Regiment.

INSIDE MAIL: GRAFTON

RACE 1

Hudoo Vudoo is better than his latest effort when sixth at Coffs Harbour. Scored a handy win at Ipswich his start prior and rates highly on that. Dunlee wasn’t disgraced when sixth at Wyong last start after racing wide without cover. Has placed on the heavy. Rizzoli came from well back for fourth to Past Tense at Coffs Harbour last start. Has good wet track form. Jet Pilot was held up on the turn when third in that same race.

Bet: Quinella/trifecta 3, 4, 7, 9, 12.

RACE 2

Inari Fox should have finished much closer on debut here at Grafton if not for being held up on straightening and then checked. Big drifter second-up but toughed it out well for a close second to Hot Profit at Murwillumbah. Will go close. Mooki Beauty ran home well behind the impressive Innocent Party at Quirindi last start. Kohinoor Lustre has ability and can find herself in the placings. Debutant Brave Warrior has trialled well and must be kept safe.

Bet: Inari Fox to win. Quinella/trifecta 1, 2, 3, 7, 9.

RACE 3

Lucky Enuff has been freshened since scoring a nice win at Coffs Harbour on May 21. Kept up to the mark with a handy trial at the Gold Coast recently. Sacred Zim was forced to race wide when a close third to Potent View last start. Golden Fantasy has been just behind the placegetters in two runs since winning at Port Macquarie. Placed both times on heavy. Bel Academy didn’t come up last preparation but previous for was good.

Bet: Lucky Enuff to win.

RACE 4

Camp Rifle is ready to peak after two runs back from a spell. Doesn’t win too often but he definitely has the ability to win better races than this. Will handle the heavy track. Auntie Monnie should have gone close to winning first-up when hampered at Gunnedah and had to be eased. She’s the hardest to beat. Franklin Corners is racing very consistently and must be given a chance. The Big Eater produced a big run when third at Ballina after missing the start. Has won twice on the heavy.

Bet: Camp Rifle each-way.

RACE 5

Field Regiment boxed on well when fourth on debut at the Gold Coast before overracing and being inconvenienced when fourth again at the same track last start. He should have finished closer. Mikado resumes from a spell but had handy form last campaign including a fourth to Tamilaide. Bladnoch is better than his last start fifth. Just beaten at his previous start at Port Macquarie. Hyland Bay did plenty of work last start when fourth here. Don’t dismiss.

Bet: Field Regiment each-way.

RACE 6

Very open affair. Texas Storm ran his best race over a mile when second to Lolita Gold two starts back. Didn’t handle the tight Kempsey track start. Has strong heavy track form. Hit The Target faced for sixth to The Empire after leading at Newcastle. Good win in Parkes Cup the start prior. Lolita Gold will appreciate getting back to the mile. Drawn well but untested on heavy. Jazzland has well beaten in both runs this campaign in stronger races. Will appreciate drop in grade and has raced well here.

Bet: Texas Storm each-way.

RACE 7

Ausbred Cooee was very impressive winning by a big margin over 1400m on his new home track of Coffs Harbour last start. Had good provincial form prior to a break. Step up to 1608m looks ideal. Atomic Bomb broke his maiden in good fashion at Doomben last start. Has placed twice on the heavy. Wide draw is the query. Hubble dropped in grade and finished a handy third at Gatton last week. Cosmic City hit his head in the barriers when down the track at Newcastle first-up from a long spell. Will definitely be better for the run but he is capable of running into the minor placings at odds.

Bet: Ausbred Cooee to win.

Originally published asGrafton tips: Newing takes aim with Rifle

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