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Sue Grills, one of the Grafton Cup carnival's biggest supporters, will be missing this year.
The popular Tamworth trainer is jetting off the UK for a long holiday that will include watching Black Caviar race at Royal Ascot.
Grills and her husband John will be joined on the trip by fellow Tamworth trainer Leslie Jeffries and friends Steve and Jenny Coe.
"We're going for a whole month, hallelujah," Grills said.
"We get to see Black Caviar race at Royal Ascot. I can't wait!"
Grills invariably sets a big team for the Grafton July carnival but her stable may have a bare presence this year due to her absence.
"We're not back in time for Grafton. Most of the horses will go for a spell while we are away," Grills said.
The exception may be her smart sprinter Usain Prince, who resumed with a win at Tamworth on June 1.
It was the eighth win from 22 starts for Usain Prince and Grills suggested he could be one of her few runners at the Grafton carnival.
“Something like the Maclean Cup at the end of the carnival might be his go,” she said.
Usain Prince is raced by a big syndicate with members spread as far afield as as Hong Kong.
Grills indicated that the promising Keep It Danish, a three-year-old by Nothin' Leica Dane who won her second race from four starts at Grafton on May 29, may not stay in work for the Grafton carnival.
"She'll probably have one more start, then I'll tip her out. She's still learning, still growing."
"After spelling she should come back a nice horse," Grills said.
Scone-trained Star Of Dubai is Grafton-bound after his win at Muswellbrook on May 28.
The lightly raced Star Of Dubai, who has never missed a prize money cheque in 10 starts with four wins and six placings, is being set for the $50,000 South Grafton Cup on July 7 by his trainer Luke Griffith.
“The owners go to the Grafton carnival every year and want to run him in the South Grafton cup,” Griffith said.
“This was only his third run from a long spell and we have a few more restricted class races to win before we get to Grafton."
