Scone trainer Brett Cavanough says gelding The Monstar “threw away” his chance to win Wednesday’s $160,000 Grafton District Services Club Ramornie Handicap (1200m).
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The race was won by the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Calanda.
The Monstar was beaten a half head in race and track record time.
Calanda stopped the clock at 1min 7.56sec.
It bettered the previous Clarence River Jockey Club mark of 1:7.87.
That was set by Rock Royalty when he won the Ramornie two years ago.
“He threw it away,” Cavanough said.
“If he goes straight he wins it by two lengths.”
While Cavanough had a hard luck tale, Paul Snowden was a delighted young trainer after Calanda’s win.
He and his father, Peter, shared their first Ramornie together.
Peter had won two previous Ramornies with Jerezana (2011) and Pinwheel (2010).
“It’s a big thrill,” Peter Snowden said.
“He’s a talented horse too.
“His start in Brisbane didn’t go right for him either and he won well at Rosehill.
“He’s got talent. Always had it but might have got the wraps too early.”
The three-year-old gelding son of Snitzel he has now won five of his 11 starts.
He has collected just over $400,000 in prize money.
Calanda will now go for a spell despite being in “good order”, Peter Snowden said.
The stable also finished third with Flippant.
“She was gallant again,” Paul Snowden said of Flippant.
In race two, Avroson backed up his win at Friday’s Curlewis Cup at Gunnedah with a first in the $30,000 Group 1 Feeds Rural Plate Class 6 (2200m).
Jockey Josh Adams pushed Avroson through a small gap to snare a third successive win on the Scone gelding.
The five-year-old gelding son of Al Maher gave Cavanough a good start to Ramornie Handicap day.
Avroson had won his previous two starts at Dubbo and Gunnedah.
He was on a quick six-day backup for Cavanough.
Adams has built a quick and winning partnership with Cavanough.
Adams was at his best to bullock Avroson between runners and race away to a length-and-half win from Suggestapartner.
“He was far too good,” the jockey said.
“He’s gone to another level.
“Brett is going well and been giving me good support.
“[He’s been] putting me on some good horses.”
Avroson has won six of his 33 starts.
“He’s only a little bloke,” Cavanough said.
“Just got that quirky turn of foot.”