KINGSTON Time chases a Grafton Cup start today.
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The Armidale gelding, trained by Paul Grills, has been racing “thereabouts” on the coast in recent runs and his trainer believes he might just win a berth in next Thursday’s $150,000 Grafton Cup (2350m) when he is one of nine runners in today‘s $20,000 Westlawn Finance Grafton Cup Prelude (2220m).
He almost had two in today’s Grafton Cup Prelude.
“Yeah. Dusty’s Felt.I almost nominated him for this race too, but he pulled up a bit sore from his run at Ballina. He’s just starting to his straps.”
Dusty’s Felt might run on Ramornie Handicap day (next Wednesday).
Kingston Time though, well, he could easily be in next Thursday’s Grafton Cup.
“Yeah, I’ll nominate him for it but he’d nearly have to win this to get in I’d reckon,” Grills told The Leader yesterday.
“He’s going all right. He’s been working well. He’s been thereabouts too lately.”
Grills was “hauled into the room” by stewards after he finished last at Grafton four runs back.
“But that was on a heavy track.
“He was unlucky at Ballina the other day (third to Rapidus). And this is a winnable race. It’d be nice to win, getting a start in the Grafton Cup would be enormous.”
Enormous also describes Kingston Time’s form over the past 12 months or so.
“He’s come a long way from being a 35 benchmark rater this time last year,” he said.
“He’s won seven races for us since that Class 3 win at Moree in mid July.”
Kingston Time apart, Paul Grills looks to have a busy time at Grafton.
He also has a maidener running in Sunday’s South Grafton Cup day, and could have Armidale Cup winner Dusty’s Felt running at next Wednesday’s Ramornie Handicap day, Kingston Time in Thursday’s Grafton Cup as well as a runner at the Maclean Cup meeting on Sunday week.
In between, he also has another young horse ready to run at Mungindi on Saturday week.
“Going to be pretty busy clocking up a few kilometres,” he said.
o Paul Grills isn’t the only HNWRA trainer represented in today’s Grafton Cup Prelude with Ruth Cooper running Mullet Man. Tamworth trainers Craig Martin and Leon Davies also have Jefferson Park and Gelsomina engaged in today’s $20,000 John Carlton Cup (1215m) too.
Winner of that race is exempt from ballot in next wednesday’s $150,000 Ramornie Handicap (1200m).
Martin’s Jefferson Park has dawn barrier four with Tim Bell aboard while Gelsomina has drawn wider (13) for Davies and will be ridden by Andrew Gibbons.
