Con's judgment yet again has paid dividends at Grafton, taking only two horses up for four races, resulting in three winners.
Kasharn who had been plagued by wet tracks struck two firm surfaces and recaptured his winning form by scoring two races over the carnival. The first win on Sunday 5th July was an impressive effort, he shouldn't have won, he did everything wrong, over raced and never settled but still managed to get out when it counted and stormed down the outside to win. Its not very often you see horses do everything wrong in there races, especially over race and see them fight out a finish, no matter what race they are in. A week later, ridden completely different, sitting up outside the leader, strode away to win nicely over the 1600m again, he settled a lot better but didn't have that turn of foot as he showed in the first win, he is a lot better when ridden off the speed. We have always known he had the ability, but he is still very immature and I don't think you'll see the best of him until next preparation and up over further, where I'm hoping he would have matured to cope with the distance.
Rapier was only having his second start back in, fresh off a 3rd placing at Newcastle after a very long layoff due to injury. He out toughed his rivals, digging deep over the 1000m to win quite easily. He is a much better horse on wet surfaces, but showed his ability to race on top of the ground also. He backed up again four days later to be very unlucky finishing 9th, blocked for room and it was all over by the time he was clear, only being beaten 3.2 lengths. He will be a great little horse over winter and that wont be his last win.
The carnival has always been a great time for us and I hope to have an even stronger team of horses next year.