3 minute read

Can history repeat for Port Macquarie trainer Jenny Graham in this year’s NSW Country Championship?

Graham reached a career high 12 months ago when her she trained the trifecta in the Port Macquarie heat of the Country Championship when her stable star Victorem beat stablemates Awesome Pluck and Portatorio.

It got better as Victorem then went on to win the $500,000 final at Randwick after Awesome Pluck had to be withdrawn after suffering a respiratory setback.

Victorem has since graduated to black type company with a Listed win and a G3 placing in rich Brisbane sprints late last year.

However Awesome Pluck, despite a spring placing in the $1 million Kocsiuszko at Randwick and back to back wins in Brisbane in December, is still eligible for this year’s Country Championship and will lead a two-horse team from the Graham stable into Sunday’s Port Macquarie heat of the 2019 series.

Graham will also be represented by Let’s Rebelle in the $150,000 heat over 1200m but clearly favours Awesome Pluck to qualify for the Randwick final for a second time.

The winner and runner-up in the seven heats run in each NSW country racing zone over the next five weeks qualify for the Randwick final over 1400m on April 6.

Awesome Pluck has not raced since he won a Class 6 over 1000m at Eagle Farm on December 22 but was brought up to the mark for Sunday’s heat with an easy third in a barrier trial at Taree on February 10.

Robert Thompson, Graham’s favourite jockey and a great help to the trainer for many years, rode Awesome Pluck in the trial and is booked for the mount on Sunday.

It will be the first time Thompson has ridden the Pluck gelding in a race since they combined for a win at Port Macquarie 12 months ago.

Awesome Pluck, owned by Graham’s major client Dale Miller, has recorded four wins and five placings from his 11 starts for prizemoney of more than $320,000.

The lightly-raced mare Let’s Rebelle has earned her shot at the Country Championship with four wins and two placings from his first eight starts.

Talented local apprentice Cejay Graham has ridden Let’s Rebelle in two of her wins and has the mount on Sunday.

Victorem was spelled after his four start Brisbane campaign in November and December that yielded a win in the Listed Lough Neagh Stakes and placings in the G3 George Moore Stakes, Listed Keith Noud Quality and Buffering Plate.

The classy I Am Invincible gelding has returned to Graham’s stable and is being set for a late autumn return leading into the Brisbane carnival in May and June.

While Awesome Pluck looms as the horse to beat on Sunday he will face some stiff local opposition, especially from the Wayne Wilkes stable.

Wilkes has nominated five horses – Lucciola Belle, Subtle Grey, Good Excuse, Monaco Sniper and Bellastar - and hopes all can gain a start.