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Grafton trainer Daniel Want knows exactly where to look for the main opposition to his galloper Don’t Cry Mama who has built up a strong recent record under his care heading into his hometown meeting on Tuesday.
Don't Cry Mama is rated an $8 chance with the NSW TAB behind the topweight and favourite Tara Jasmine ($1.85) in the McKimms Real Estate Class 3 (1175m).
"I ride Tara Jasmine in her trackwork and she is flying so I expect her to win if she gets the right luck,"Want said. "My horse has drawn the inside barrier so I expect her to lead and prove hard to catch, but Tara Jasmine will be hard to beat on how they are going and their records."
Tara Jasmine is off a three-week break since only beating one horse to the finish line in a Randwick Highway. She won her previous start at Grafton with 61 kilograms and will carry only half a kilogram more with jockey Ben Looker again in the saddle.
Don't Cry Mama's form can't be faulted with two wins, a third and fourth from her past four starts. The six-year-old has raced 11 times under Want's care and after a slow start has built up a strong record with consecutive victories at Lismore and a solid last start third behind Pride Of Pyingerra at the same course on September 9.
Don't Cry Mama was beaten only one and a quarter lengths on that occasion and since then Pride Of Pyningerra has taken out last week's $50,000 Untamed feature sprint at the Lismore Cup meeting.
Tara Jasmine will wear blinkers for the first time and is unbeaten in three starts at Grafton.
"She is the horse to beat, but my runner won't be disgraced if he is able to lead as he has been doing of late," he added. "I had him held back in his races early on, but since he has been rolling along he has been a lot more competitive."
Jockey Jodi Worley has a strong association with Don't Cry Mama having ridden the gelding in his past six starts when he has been in career-best form: "Jodi rides him trackwork as well and has a good understanding of the horse," he said.
Meanwhile, another in-form candidate, Oh Say ($8) went out on a winning note and will resume for her first start in 100 days. The chestnut mare posted consecutive wins at Port Macquarie and Kempsey in May and June which followed a maiden victory at her home track in April.
Port Macquarie trainer Neil Godbolt has been able to win three races with the daughter of Starspangledbanner since he took over her training from the Sydney Hawkes stable in March. Godbolt's daughter and stable forewoman Alyson Thompson said Oh Say had done everything asked of her.
"She was sent to us to try and win a race by her owner and breeder and she has been able to win three times with a few placings as well," she said. "She hasn't missed a beat since she came back in and I expect her to be competitive although she will benefit from the start."
Oh Say, who will be ridden by Stephen Traecey replacing the suspended Louise Day, is raced by Kirks Bridge Farm. She has been able to earn over $70,000 with bonuses from limited racing.
"If all of the horses were as honest as her you would have a lot of fun," Thompson said. "She is up in grade now and this is the class where she will have to race at. She is building up a nice record and the way she is going she should keep it up."
