As Grafton trainers prepare for another big weekend of racing it is a good time to look back on some recent results.
Grafton’s leading trainer John Shelton continues to have a great year. Albeit that it seems that to find that elusive winner John now needs to spend more time travelling with six of his last seven winners coming from tracks spreading from Ipswich in the north to Taree in the south and Armidale in the west.
Stable star Tara Jasmine was the most recent winner scoring a great win in a Ipswich Open 1350m back on March 31st. Whilst Tara Jasmine has been a great horse for the stable most of her wins have come at her home track but clearly as she matures she has been able to take her excellent Grafton form on the road. There is little doubt that at this time Tara Jasmine is rightly considered the queen of Grafton Racing.
Whilst Tara Jasmine may well be hailed the queen just down the road at Cuban Song Lodge we have the princess in waiting.
The start of the Fleur Blanch yard Miss Super continues to shine brightly emphasised by a brilliant victory at Grafton 1190m on March 27th.
Like Tara jasmine Miss Super has always kept her best form for her home track at Grafton and her effortless victory at her last start has further enhanced her reputation.
The Blanch camp has been in top form with the win by Miss Super and Paris Belle just a few days earlier in a Ballina maiden 1590m taking Fleur’s season tally to nine which is by far her most successful season since taking our a licence almost four years ago.
We all know racing is a competitive sport but imagine the competition when you husband is also a trainer. That is the issue in the Blanch and Henley camps.
Whilst Fleur Blanch has been flying high husband Scott Henley has been flying under the radar and had his first winner in almost two years when Surf Sonic also scored at Grafton in the BM 58 1420m on March 27th.
A few seasons back it was nothing to see Scott saddle up over a 100 runners a season but an injury received in a jump out fall has seen Scott wind things back considerably and his season average runners now stands in the low twenties.
Nevertheless the win by Surf Sonic was enough to bring a smile to the face of Henley who indicated it was nice to find his way back to the winners room after such a long break.
