The barrier draw for the 2017 Listed $160,000 Grafton District Services Club Ramornie Handicap (1200m) at Grafton on Wednesday has done no harm for the chances of two of the favoured runners The Monstar and Boss Lane.
Boss Lane, above, has drawn a midfield barrier in the Ramornie Handicap at Grafton. Photo by Steve Hart.
Both The Monstar, with the top weight of 59.5kg, and the second top weight Boss Lane with 57.5kg, have been racing in fine form and will get every chance from favourable barrier draws in the sixteen horse field with only one of the four emergencies drawing inside them.
If all the emergencies fail to gain a start the Brett Cavanough trained The Monstar with Josh Adams in the saddle will have no trouble taking up his usual position on the pace from barrier six while Andrew Adkins will be able to slot the Ron Quinton trained Boss Lane in just behind the pace from gate eight.
The Monstar is racing in fine form with an all the way win two starts back in the Listed $150,000 June Stakes (1100m) at Randwick on June 10 followed by a brave second with 59.5kg to Gold Symphony in the Listed $150,000 Civic Stakes (1350m) at Rosehill on July 1.
While Boss Lane was back to his best form with a last start win in the $100,000 Winter Dash (1200m) at Randwick on June 24 at his second run this time in and will head to the Ramornie Handicap in great shape.
Larry Cassidy replaces Jim Byrne on the Peter and Paul Snowden trained Flippant and the Brisbane based jockey will be able to give the mare the run of the race from barrier two.
Flippant will go into the Ramornie Handicap with one run under her belt after finishing fifth first up to Burning Passion in the Group 3 $175,000 W.J. Healy Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on June 24.
Team Snowden will also saddle up Calanda who has drawn nicely at barrier three with Jim Byrne in the saddle aand the three year old will head to the Ramornie Handicap as a last start winner in a 1100m BenchMark 93 Handicap at Rosehill on July 1.
James Cummings will saddle up two Ramornie Handicap runners for Godolphin, last start Sunshine Coast winner Badajoz and the out of form Mogador.
Cummings will be hoping for better luck in the run than at the barrier draw after Badajoz drew gate seventeen and Mogador drew even wider at nineteen but both could move in four spots if all the emergencies fail to gain a start.
Eight year old Someday will be having his first start in just over sixteen months for new trainer Desleigh Forster and the veteran sprinter has drawn the rails with Ben Looker taking the mount.
Someday is the winner of seven of his twenty-eight starts and Forster will be the gelding’s fourth trainer after he was previously prepared by Greg Cornish at Beaudesert and Kelso Wood and Tony Gollan at Eagle Farm.
