2024 Ramornie Handicap Day Tips & Preview
Holstein has gone up a short-priced favourite in the first at Grafton on Wednesday. Photo: Steve Hart.

2024 Ramornie Handicap Day Tips & Preview

The Grafton Carnival heats up on Wednesday with the Listed Ramornie Handicap headlining the eight-race card.  

A slightly wet track is expected with the course rated a Soft 5 and the rail in the true position across the circuit.  

We’ve scoured the entire program in the hopes of finding a few winners below.  

Race 1 - 12:29PM GROUP 1 HORSE FEEDS RURAL PLATE - CLASS 6 SHOWCASE (2200 METRES)
No. 2 Holstein

Holstein has been up for a while, holding his form nicely in much tougher races than this.  

The five-year-old son of Snitzel found the front over the final furlong two runs back at Canterbury, holding on through the line for a narrow win back over 1900m.  

The heavy track and the wide gate were against him a fortnight later over a shorter distance at Rosehill, but he should find the slightly firmer conditions more suitable this time from a much kinder gate.  

Experienced in tougher races and likely to settle just off the speed, this looks a nice contest for him to bounce back with a stack of fitness on his side.  

Race 2 - 1:04PM CROWN HOTEL MOTEL COUNTRY BOOSTED SHOWCASE MAIDEN PLATE (1000 METRES)
No. 5 Superstitious

Superstitious resumes following an impressive trial win at Murwillumbah leading in.  

The Snitzel three-year-old was twice placed during his maiden prep at Canterbury earlier in the year, wrapping up his campaign in a tougher race at Hawkesbury when beaten 7.5 lengths behind smart filly Redbreast.  

Now under the care of Matthew Dunn, a similar effort to his debut run in January can be expected back in grade.  

Race 3 - 1:39PM NEWING RACING & S J RACING SUPER MAIDEN SHOWCASE PLATE (1700 METRES)
No. 11 Miss Dynamo

Miss Dynamo has drawn a nice soft gate ahead of her third start.  

This impressive filly by Churchill continues to improve with racing, holding her own in tougher contests up in Queensland since debuting last month.  

She featured in the money a couple of weeks ago at Eagle Farm out to the mile, settling off the speed under Robbie Dolan before timing her run well to just miss out in a diving finish.  

The slightly improved conditions strengthen her claims and she’s drawn a nice soft gate that should allow her to adopt similar tactics.  

Race 4 - 2:14PM FIDELITY CAPITAL CLASS 2 SHOWCASE HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
No. 7 My Mum’s Toyboy

My Mum’s Toyboy just needs luck from the awkward gate to be winning on return.  

Brett Dodson’s three-year-old has superior wet track form compared to some of his rivals, highlighted by a debut win on a Heavy 9 at Taree last December where he made it look easy drawing clear by a length. 

The son of Kobayashi lost no admirers placing in his next two starts and appeared in great order winning a recent barrier trial at Ballina.  

Race 5 - 2:49PM WINNING EDGE PRESENTATIONS 4YO&UP CLASS 2 SHOWCASE HANDICAP (1600 METRES)
No. 7 Better Yet

Better Yet looks set to peak third-up over the mile.  

The mare by Better Than ready has raced well without winning since returning to work, finishing midfield in back to back starts at ipswich and Kilcoy over shorter trips.  

The tactics were slightly against her a few weeks ago over 1500m but she should land somewhere close to the speed from out wide this time.  

Has won and placed over the mile in the past and a rain-affected track is a big plus with Kyle Wilson-Taylor carrying only 55.5kg.  

Race 6 - 3:24PM TURSA GRAFTON GUINEAS (1600 METRES)
No. 2 Pluckten

Pluckten is a promising three-year-old racing with confidence for Damian Lane. 

He presents rock-hard fit for three runs back, securing his second win at Hawkesbury last week when shifting back over to the fence over 1500m for a soft 2.5 length win on the line.  

Another wet track should suit with Aaron Jones taking over in the saddle and the decision to race on the quick back up warrants big respect.  

Out to the mile now and likely to get back early from the wide gate, the pair should prove difficult to hold out.  

Race 7 - 3:59PM GRAFTON DISTRICT SERVICES CLUB RAMORNIE HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
No. 3 Pereille

Pereille looks the one to beat in the main feature of the day.  

The Godolphin four-year-old has burned punters plenty over the last six months, but there were excuses offered in the Hinkler at Eagle Farm last month when held up badly off a questionable steer under James McDonald. 

His previous win fresh on the Sunny Coast was dominant and he has had a nice trial between starts to keep him sharp.  

Loves a wet track and Zac Lloyd has a good feel for the son of Fastnet Rock. The pair just need to be in the right part of the track rounding the bend to finish over the top.  

each way
Race 8 - 4:34PM GRAFTON TAXIS COUNTRY BOOSTED BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
No. 4 Miss Thatcher

Miss Thatcher comes back to race at country level after tackling 1400m at Rosehill late last month where she was second last to greet the judge.  

The Churchill mare has failed to cash a cheque in four starts over this trip, but she did appear close to another win when twice placed at Goulburn earlier in her prep.  

Jack Baker gets in well with the claim and a firming track by this point in the day would be seen as a plus.