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Ramornie Target For First-Up Specialist

3 minute read

Trainer Kris Lees will target next Wednesday’s $160,000 Ramornie Handicap at Grafton with his first-up specialist Zestful.

Zestful
Zestful Picture: Racing and Sports

Lees has confirmed his plans to start the six-year-old mare in the Listed Grafton District Services Club Ramornie (1200m) with Corey brown as her rider.

Zestful has won three of her four starts when resuming and has trialled twice in preparation for a first-up tilt at the Ramornie.

She ran second to Chauffeur over 1000m at Wyong on June 15 and 12 days later won a 900m Cessnock trial.

“I haven’t had many runners in the Ramornie. Zestful is ready to go there and run well,” Lees said.

“Her trials have been good and she is in great order.”

Lees is yet to win Grafton’s time-honored sprint but has managed two minor placings with now retired stable favorites Captain Bax in 2008 and Motspur in 2011.

Zestful hasn’t raced since finishing second to Faraway Town in the G3 Triscay Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on February 17, a race she won the previous year.

She has 56.5kg at Grafton.

Lees also will have two runners in the $80,000 Tursa Grafton Guineas (1600m) on Wednesday’s Ramornie program.

Brown partners Turnberry and Tasmanian-based Craig Newitt rides Chalmers.

Turnberry has been freshened since finishing 12th to Dark Dream in the G1 Queensland Derby (2200m) at Doomben on June 9.

Two starts earlier he was runner-up to Kurnel Jaxon over the Grafton Guineas distance.

Chalmers has been in outstanding form this campaign, winning twice and finishing second twice from four starts.

He was kept up to the mark for his Grafton trip with a Cessnock trial on June 27 when he finished sixth to stablemate Tactical Advantage over 900m.
Racing and Sports

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