Tamworth, Albury previews: Trainer Sue Grills eager to see what bargain buys can deliver
Sue Grills will use Monday's hometown meeting at Tamworth to take the wrapping off two of her unraced brigade who could have both been bought for no more than $5,000.
The duo – Pride Of Nations and Artie's Magic – were each offered at the HTBA Yearling Sale at Inglis' Riverside complex in April, 2023.
Lot 113, now known as Artie's Magic, was knocked down for $3,000.
Later on the same day, Lot 257, now called Pride Of Nations, fetched just $2,000 when she was put through the ring.
Grills knows first-hand that (high) price doesn't always mean (high) performance, pointing to her own $2,000 purchase at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale in 2017 where she snapped up an Animal Kingdom close relation to Pride Of Dubai.
Its name was My Benalla.
'He was a really good horse,'' Grills says. ' He could have potentially been the best horse I ever trained but I just couldn't keep him sound.
'He had a lot of issues. He was a really big horse who had crook pasterns but he still won four races from six starts.'
MY BENALLA ðŸ'¥ returned with a bang @sconeraceclub after 20 months off recovering from a tendon injury, gives #Kosciusko slot holders something to think about @garyharleysky @garykliese @MickWallaceMail @daveystan1 @P_L_Looker @MelindaTurner_ pic.twitter.com/TpaAY9IHw0
— Andy Grills (@andy_8005) September 7, 2021
Grills' Tamworth debutante Pride Of Nations boasts a pedigree far in excess of her meagre price-tag.
For starters, she is a daughter of Doncaster winner Kermadec who is credited with Group 1 winner Montefelia.
Better still, Pride Of Nation's grand-dam, Tessamo, is a daughter of 2YO Triple Crown winner Tierce and is a half-sister to Guy Walter's four-times Group 1 winner, Streama.
Alas, it seems it was not Pride Of Nation's pedigree that turned buyers off at the sale, it was her physique.
'When they bought her apparently she was very small,'' Grills explained.
'I didn't see her at the sale, I only got her six or seven months ago and I gave her a little prep and gave her six or seven weeks' break and back in again.
'I don't expect too much of her for her first start, trials are so different to races, but she's a nice little filly.
'It's no good putting her over 1000m, she is bred to run further, so 1200m looks a nice start for her on her home track with a good draw.'
Artie's Magic, like Pride Of Nation's, will be handled by champion country jockey Kody Nestor when he steps out in the Concrete Industry Supplies Maiden Plate (1000m).
'He's a bit the same as Pride Of Nations,'' Grills says. 'I only got him this prep.
'He was well-educated. (Tamworth trainer) Mark Milton had done a great job with him, then I got him so I've only had him a couple a months.
'He trialled okay too (so) I think he'll run a nice race.
'He has drawn the outside barrier but it doesn't matter so much at the 1000m now at Tamworth because they've only got one turn and they're home.'
Flying Artie boasts a fascinating pedigree owing to a rare 3 X 3 double-cross of champion racehorse and sire, Century.
Grills' third runner on Monday's card is So Rosie who resumes after a short, sharp, successful last campaign that was not without drama.
. @chelseahillier4 guides So Rosie to victory in Race 5 at Dubbo! pic.twitter.com/vrug3CyOa8
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 29, 2024
'She's got her barrier issues so you're just better off giving her a couple of starts and putting her out,'' Grills said.
'She had to re-trial because she got scratched at Coonabarabran or somewhere. She hit her stifle bad coming out of the gates so I had to put her out again for a month.
'It is a good race for her but I wish she had the outside and not the inside barrier.'
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Travers does the Math at Albury
The stars, or more precisely, the clouds, have aligned to boost the already bright prospects of a ninth victory for warrior queen Mathrin at Albury on Monday.
The Michael Travers -trained mare has a 72.2 per cent win/place record on Heavy tracks throughout her long career.
Better still, the Kitchwin Hills-bred mare has a 100 per cent record on the Albury Heavy, having knocked off a hot Class 1 that day which included subsequent Country Championship Final participant, Tap 'N' Run.
'She is a gun,'' Travers said.
'She loves it wet and she's going well, we are just going to need luck because she gets back in her races.
'She is our stable stalwart and we love her to death. We treat her like a queen here.'
Understandably so, given Mathrin has won eight races for trainer Travers, two of which he steered her to himself in his days as a dual licence holder.
Mathrin under a strong ride from @DanBeasley111 gets home in Race 6 at @mtcwagga.
Bringing up a double for Dan this afternoon ðŸ'� pic.twitter.com/Cm6HtdBLGx
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 31, 2024
'She just keeps turning up,'' an admiring Travers says.
'She is just all heart and doesn't know how to not put in a good run.'
Mathrin's tally of starts will tick over to 78 on Monday but she shows no signs of tapering off.
In fact, she won the Cowra Cup at her 70th race day appearance, adding the Corowa Cup at her 73rd.
A thrilling finish to the Cowra Cup � and it's Mathrin who gets the photo for @TraversRacing! @COWRAJOCKEYCLUB pic.twitter.com/9kKLKKUPnz
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 19, 2025
Mathrin will have company in Monday's Boss Better Living Systems Benchmark 82 Handicap (1400m) from the former Leilani Lodge resident Kahawaty, who is one-for-one at Albury only it was on a Good 3.
'She's another one who races really well all the time but unfortunately the wet is not going to help her at all,'' Travers warned.
Travers is also hoping a positive barrier will lead to a positive outcome for flashy chestnut filly, the hitherto unlucky Gioia River.
'She has been racing really well,'' Travers says. 'I thought she could win last start if she had drawn a gate but we have been forced to go back to the tail of the field all the time, so hopefully on Monday she can travel a little bit closer.'
Born and raised at Arrowfield Stud, Gioia River was knocked down to Gai Waterhouse et al for $175,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Sale.
A daughter of The Autumn Sun, Travers' filly counts two champions in her family; namely our own Hartnell and the immortal Suave Dancer.
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