Greg Polson Preview and top three bets for Grafton Thursday

Greg Polson - Thursday September 14

We need to be up and running early today with our three best bets coming in the first four races on the eight-race program at Grafton.

It looks a great day to get up and at 'em early with some good bets at Grafton.

The three specials might be short in early markets but as the saying goes – it's better to back a short-priced winner than a long-priced loser and I am reluctant to not tip one at the country meetings based on early markets because they can change considerably on race day.

WOODDITTON (Race 4 No 1)

This Stephen Lee-trained mare has been placed in each of her five career starts to date with the form from her third at the Gold Coast last-start really holding up.

The winner Dreamscape ran second in a class three at Doomben next start on August 16, the seventh horse Skycraper came out and won a maiden on the same day with even the horse that finished last getting into the act winning a Lismore maiden a day earlier.

The fifth and sixth placed horses have finished in the placings at subsequent runs so the form line is certainly strong enough for a Grafton maiden.

Woodditton gets a set of blinkers for the first time and just needs even luck in running from an awkward gate to be close to a good thing.

BRONZED VENOM (Race 1 No 1)

The trainer/jockey combination of Matthew Dunn and Matthew McGuren provide the second of our best bets in Bronzed Venom.

Bronzed Venom strung together three straight wins last preparation commencing with a maiden at Murwillumbah over 1530m before winning a class one at the Gold Coast over 1400m and completing the hat-trick in a 0-62 at the same track and distance.

Bronzed Venom finished on the heels of the placegetters at Ipswich when resuming and is ready to win with the run under his belt.

CAMILLO (Race 2 No 1)

Trainer David Kelly is an old Grafton boy and loves nothing better than coming back home to win races and Camillo looks ready to go first-up if a recent trial at Coffs Harbour is any guide.

Camillo resumes after having two runs in his first preparation, finishing fourth at the Gold Coast on debut before finding Stakes Class at Doomben beyond him at his only other start.

The fact that connections threw Camillo in the deep end at Doomben suggests the son of Shocking was showing them plenty and he was impressive in a Coffs Harbour trial on August 8 finishing a close second in slick time.

A repeat of the trial would see him hard to beat.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Bellatrix Star May Back Up in G1 Champions Sprint
Te Akau and Fortuna Racing’s filly Bellatrix Star proved she is among Australia’s top sprinting three-year-olds last Saturday at Flemington, finishing second in the A$2 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
Sires With Winners - Monday November 4
Here is the full list of 21 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Will it be a fairytale finish for Tasmanian-bred mare The Map?
Fresh from sweeping the sire awards at the 2024 Tasmanian Racing Awards this season, the Armidale Stud team is in line for another significant achievement with The Map (Alpine Eagle x This Moment) flying the flag for resident stallion Alpine Eagle in the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup on Tuesday 5 November.
Kiwi Grey Targets Subzero on Cup Day
The Subzero Handicap (1400m), a race solely for registered grey thoroughbreds, has proven to be a fan favourite at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, and this year, Kiwis will have their own grey to barrack for.
Te Akau Chasing Another Cup Day Success
Last year’s Melbourne Cup Day concluded in success for Mark Walker in the Gr.3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m), a race he will chase back-to-back crowns in on Tuesday with Kiwi mare Quintessa.
Kiwi Longshot Hope for Cup
Grant Cooksley came tantalisingly close to getting his hands on the Melbourne Cup as a jockey, and he is hoping to rectify that on Tuesday as a trainer when he lines-up Trust In You in the two-mile feature.
Zoustar 6YO Stepping up to 2000m
Pre-post favourite Habana will head into unfamiliar territory at Ellerslie, but there is confidence in his camp that it will be a smooth transition.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
Two heats at the Rosehill trials on Monday morning over 900m and the quickest of those was won by an expensive son of Golden Slipper winning first season sire Farnan.
Antrim Coast to Fly Flag for The Oaks Stud
The well-renowned colours of The Oaks Stud will feature across two feature Trans-Tasman meetings this week, kicking off with Antrim Coast lining up in the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Melbourne Cup Tips – Tara Talks Racing
Tara Talks Racing is now online having had a Sunday arvo drink or two as we go through the Cup horses, so what do Clocker and I like for this year’s Melbourne Cup?