What a day of racing we have this Wednesday with the running of two absolute peaches, in the Grafton Guineas and Ramornie Handicap.
In particular, the Ramornie Handicap is a renowned country sprint race and is an annual highlight of the Clarence River Jockey Club’s July racing carnival in Australia.
Run over 1200m and carrying Listed Race status, the Ramornie Handicap shares the spotlight with the Grafton Cup at the headline races.
Throw in prize money exceeding $200,000 and you have some of NSW’s top sprinters vying for victory.
Among the race’s notable winners is the legendary Takeover Target, an 8-time Group One champion in 2004.
As for the trainers, In 2022 Peter and Paul Snowden clinched their fifth victory in the race with Ranges, following their previous successes with Pinwheel, Jerezana, Calanda, and Signore Fox.
Mick Gannon from theGreatTipOff.com has all the mail you need for these two feature events.
Grafton Guineas
A field of 13 has been accepted for the Guineas with Epicus and Vain Invader yet to have jockeys booked and are not certain starters.
Your early favourite is Crafty Eagle ($2.40) who comes out of the Winx Guineas at the Sunshine Coast.
He ran a very tough 4th on that occasion after being wide throughout the entire mile journey.
If he’s pulled up well from that run, he should prove a mile too good for these.
Bettcha The Crown ($5.50) will relish the predicted strong tempo and has been finishing off his races well.
He’s won two of his past three with the only failure coming in the Group 3 Gunsynd at Eagle Farm.
He gains the services of Jimmy Orman and draws for a soft run in transit.
Flashing Steel ($4.80) has been dominating the metropolitan midweeks, running his rivals into the ground in nice style.
This is a much tougher test with the 62kg, and he’ll have plenty of company up on speed.
Deep Opinions ($10.00) won well at Grafton last start and can fill a placing if the cards fall his way.
Ramornie Handicap
A capacity field of 16 look set to clash over the Grafton 1200m with the winner set to put their name alongside some of the bigger names in racing including Takeover Target.
As you’d expect there is plenty of early speed engaged here with backmarkers likely to get their chance.
The Big Goodbye ($8.50) arrives here via the Group 3 WJ Healy at Eagle Farm and proved his wears when running 2.18L, 2nd to Prince Of Boom, with the likes of Quantico and Ranges behind him.
Ranges was last year’s winner of this race and has the task ahead to turn the tables on The Big Goodbye from their last meeting.
Devils Throat ($9.50) is in career-best form winning two on the trot at Rosehill in Saturday Metro grade.
This is a step up in grade but he’s in very well with the 54kg and Team Snowden knows the type of horse that is needed to win this race, winning 5 of the last 13 editions.
Better Get Set ($15.00) looks well and truly over the odds.
He came into his own 3rd up last preparation and is set to peak 3rd up this time in.
He maps for the run of the race and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him cause a boilover.
Far Too Easy ($4.50) ties in with the Prince Of Boom form lines, running 2nd behind Prince Of Boom in the G2 Moreton Cup, beaten 2.64L.
There is no doubting his credentials, but the wide barrier draw and his get back racing style means he’ll be giving his rivals a big start.
Head to our horse racing tip market to access the selections of proving winning form analysts.