Race-by-race tips and preview for Grafton on Thursday
RACE 1
4. Leica Model is terrific value in an open race dropping back to fillies and mares company after finishing well in deeper grade first up at Tamworth. Given three weeks between runs to suit her sparingly raced pattern, and she will relish the longer trip. 6. So Rosie is an improver and over the odds third up. 1. Tara Jasmine is an ageing and now Queensland-based mare that has not won for a while, but showing signs of getting back to her best as a younger horse. 7. Yellowhammer has been finding the line all prep in deeper races, but overdue for a third career win. 3. Suzuki normally takes a run or two to hit her straps, but still a market watch resuming from the inside draw. 2. Decisive Lass, third up with a significant jockey change, and 8. Spirits Burn Deep, hitting peak fitness fifth up, go into trifecta and first-four plays.
How to play it: Leica Model to win.
RACE 2
3. Punch One Out is ready to win again deep into the prep, and is well placed in a race lacking depth. Leading jockey takes over on a timely 2kg weight drop. 10. Dernier Lien is an emerging filly and the clear threat having bypassed Wednesday's meeting for this. Gets in light after the 2kg claim. Be surprised if the winner comes from outside those two, but 2. Give Me Joy, despite drawing the outside barrier, is progressive enough getting over more ground, while 4. Monarch Express is over the odds fourth up after an even effort in the Guineas Prelude.
How to play it: Punch One Out to win.
RACE 3
3. What A Gent is a lightly raced provincial three-year-old that can strike first up in his second campaign. Given plenty of time after three fair closing efforts in better maidens late last year, and has looked strong in two progressive trials, winning the latest on the Beaumont track. 2. Master Artist is lightly raced and right in the contest after a solid closing run first up, with a senior NSW country hoop taking over. 12. Ol' Mate Coop is clear next best second up from a lovely trailing draw. Big gap to the rest headed by 10. Totally Underrated, which also draws to get a soft run.
How to play it: What A Gent to win.
RACE 4
3. Herman Said, a well-bred gelding by Exceedance with the Kris Lees yard at Newcastle, is poised to claim the battle of the two-year-olds. Impressed with a dominant debut win at Scone as a hot favourite 24 days ago. 1. Albany Road is also drawn to find cover, and right in the hunt third up in his first full prep for a leading Sydney stable. 12. Steffi Electrica is a Gold Coast filly coming off a dominant third-up maiden win at this track. 2. Exoflow is promising and ran them off their feet here first up only 11 days ago. 5. Lord Of Flames, a colt by Dracarys on debut for the Matthew Dunn stable behind two trials, and 7. Come On Glamour second up can both run into the minor money.
How to play it: Herman Said to win.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
6 hours ago
- News.com.au
Storm skipper Harry Grant snatches golden point thriller over Penrith
Harry Houdini! Storm skipper Harry Grant came up with a moment for the ages to seal a 22-18 win in golden point over the Panthers, ending the premiers' nine-game winning streak. With the game on the line, all of the Panthers' eyes were on the Storm's likely field goal kickers, Cameron Munster and Jonah Pezet. Grant spotted that and took his opportunity, with the star No. 9 making a darting run for the try-line and scoring the matchwinner under the posts. It capped a thrilling grand final rematch that had just about everything. It all started with a red-hot first half from the Panthers, who went into the break with a 12-4 lead — and a 100 per cent completion rate. Isaiah Papali'i opened the scoring after burrowing over from dummy-half before Xavier Coates responded to level the scores at 4-all. However there'll be plenty made of Coates' try after replays showed he knocked on into Dylan Edwards then regathered before grounding the ball. Penrith snatched the lead when Nathan Cleary backed himself and scored. But the Storm came out firing in the second half with Coates coming up with a magical five minutes. The Melbourne winger collected a loose ball and ran 65 metres to score a stunning try before leaping over Brian To'o minutes later to bat the ball back for Joe Chan to score. Those two big moments helped the Storm snatch the lead, until Scott Sorensen scored a crucial try to get the Panthers ahead again. And true to form, the Storm hit back five minutes later through Marion Seve — who was rocking protective goggles due to an eye injury he's returned from in recent weeks. As the clock wound down, the Panthers got themselves in prime field position and Cleary took a shot at field goal only for Moses Leota to be penalised for blocking. Munster attempted a field goal in the final 90 seconds, which fell short, while Cleary attempted two more — one of which was charged down by an epic Trent Loiero effort, sending the game to golden point. Grant then proved the Storm hero in one of the best games of the season.
News.com.au
10 hours ago
- News.com.au
Defender Luke Beecken set to make AFL debut for Lions against Dockers
Luke Beecken will make his AFL debut on Friday night against Fremantle in one of four changes to the Brisbane Lions team beaten by Sydney last weekend. Selected by Brisbane in last year's mid-season draft from SANFL club Woodville West Torrens, Beecken has been rewarded for his good form in the Lions' VFL team. The 24-year-old rebounding defender joins fit-again pair Ryan Lester and Brandon Starcevich, and recalled forward Sam Day as inclusions in a Brisbane side still needing a win to guarantee itself a finals berth. The quartet replace defender Tom Doedee, who has knee soreness, and omitted trio Henry Smith, Will McLachlan and Dev Robertson. Lester's return from concussion for the clash at Optus Stadium was expected, while fellow defender Starcevich did enough at training this week to prove he had recovered from hamstring injury that led to him being a late withdrawal from the Lions side that lost by two points to the Swans at the Gabba. Brisbane co-captain Lachie Neale (quad) and forward Kai Lohmann (calf) remain on sidelined. Neale's ongoing absence will give teenager Levi Ashcroft another opportunity to spend more time in the heart of the Lions midfield alongside his older brother Will. 'Before the game (against Sydney) I knew I'd be playing a little bit of midfield so I went up to him and had a little chat about that,' the younger Ashcroft said. 'We thought that was pretty cool. It was a bit of a dream of ours to be able to start in the middle together at some stoppages and centre-bounces. 'It's a really cool feeling and I can't wait to do it (on Friday night) again. 'I've been on the wing and playing half-forward, but I'm definitely looking forward to playing in the midfield with some of the more experienced guys, and showing what I can do in there.' Ashcroft said the reigning premiers were 'looking forward to bouncing back' against the Dockers. 'We're feeling really good,' he said. 'We had a bit of a tough week last week. I thought we did really well in the contest and a few other things, so we were a bit unlucky there. 'We didn't play poorly. We just had a few bad moments or bad quarters, but we've just got to stay connected, play together and continue to play our way because we know our best can beat the best and beat any team in this competition.'
ABC News
10 hours ago
- ABC News
Cairns bids to be Hawthorn's second home once Tasmania enters the AFL
Cairns is pitching itself as a potential second home for AFL powerhouse Hawthorn, should the Hawks' long-standing deal with the Tasmanian government end in two years. Football powerbrokers in Far North Queensland want to lock in regular AFL men's premiership matches, which Cairns last hosted in 2022. AFL Cairns and the Queensland government already have a three-year deal with Hawthorn, whose AFLW side will play a third home game in as many years at Cazalys Stadium next month. AFL Cairns and Cazalys Stadium general manager Craig Lees said he made the case for more elite men's football when AFL chief Andrew Dillon visited Far North Queensland last month. Mr Lees said Cairns wanted to replace Launceston as the Hawks' interstate base once the Tasmania Devils entered the AFL — a move which could bring up to four home-and-away matches a year to the far north from 2028. "That is our focus, to try and see if we can unlock those destination games," he said. Hawthorn has publicly declared its desire to continue hosting matches in Tasmania even after the Devils enter the competition, despite opposition from Devils CEO Brendon Gale. The Hawks have been contacted for comment. Cairns is also exploring the idea of teaming up with the Northern Territory, which intends to bid for a licence to become the AFL's 20th team should the code continue to expand. Mr Lees confirmed he had already had discussions with AFLNT. "I don't think a one-out 20th licence in Cairns works," he said. "However, we are happy to play our role in what that may look like in the future." Cairns Mayor Amy Eden, who also met with Mr Dillon, is a former Territorian and has backed a partnership with the NT. "One of the things we pitched to Andrew Dillon was maybe a northern Gather Round, where we share it with Darwin," she said. "We are quite regional in that sense, and if we can produce world-class events and do it together, then it just cements both of our successes in the future." Cazalys Stadium is hosting a Twenty20 cricket series decider between Australia and South Africa on Saturday night, ahead of a one-day international on Tuesday. Mr Lees said another goal was to secure Olympic cricket if the sport was added to the 2032 games program. Assistant state tourism minister Bree James said the government was "unashamedly chasing sporting events" to bring to Queensland. "I think all options are on the table and I think our minister for sport will be looking at any negotiations he can that improves the sport we have in our state," she said. One of the Barron River MP's constituents, 12-year-old Ollie Hourigan, has launched an online petition to bring an AFL team to Cairns. "I've been putting that on my social media for him, so I'm very supportive of having an elite team like that here in Far North Queensland," Ms James said.
