We need to be up and running early today with our three best bets coming in the first four races on the eight-race program at Grafton.
The three specials might be short in early markets but as the saying goes – it's better to back a short-priced winner than a long-priced loser and I am reluctant to not tip one at the country meetings based on early markets because they can change considerably on race day.
WOODDITTON (Race 4 No 1)
This Stephen Lee-trained mare has been placed in each of her five career starts to date with the form from her third at the Gold Coast last-start really holding up.
The winner Dreamscape ran second in a class three at Doomben next start on August 16, the seventh horse Skycraper came out and won a maiden on the same day with even the horse that finished last getting into the act winning a Lismore maiden a day earlier.
The fifth and sixth placed horses have finished in the placings at subsequent runs so the form line is certainly strong enough for a Grafton maiden.
Woodditton gets a set of blinkers for the first time and just needs even luck in running from an awkward gate to be close to a good thing.
BRONZED VENOM (Race 1 No 1)
The trainer/jockey combination of Matthew Dunn and Matthew McGuren provide the second of our best bets in Bronzed Venom.
Bronzed Venom strung together three straight wins last preparation commencing with a maiden at Murwillumbah over 1530m before winning a class one at the Gold Coast over 1400m and completing the hat-trick in a 0-62 at the same track and distance.
Bronzed Venom finished on the heels of the placegetters at Ipswich when resuming and is ready to win with the run under his belt.
CAMILLO (Race 2 No 1)
Trainer David Kelly is an old Grafton boy and loves nothing better than coming back home to win races and Camillo looks ready to go first-up if a recent trial at Coffs Harbour is any guide.
Camillo resumes after having two runs in his first preparation, finishing fourth at the Gold Coast on debut before finding Stakes Class at Doomben beyond him at his only other start.
The fact that connections threw Camillo in the deep end at Doomben suggests the son of Shocking was showing them plenty and he was impressive in a Coffs Harbour trial on August 8 finishing a close second in slick time.
A repeat of the trial would see him hard to beat.
