Trainer Gerald Ryan believes a better barrier and more spacious racetrack will be to Shoreham’s advantage in the Grafton Cup.

At his first start for Ryan, Shoreham drew poorly in barrier 12 and ran home strongly to be beaten by a head, by Escado in the Tattersall’s Cup (2400m) at the Gold Coast on June 20.

He will start from barrier four in Thursday’s Listed Grafton Cup (2350m).

“If he’d drawn where he has at Grafton I’m pretty sure he would have won,” Ryan said.

“We had to go back at the Gold Coast but with a better barrier and on a bigger track we should be able to ride him a tad closer and that might make the difference.”

Shoreham was transferred to Ryan from Melbourne trainer Saab Hasan following his sale to Grafton raised owner, Les Cowell.

The Sydney-based Ryan left Shoreham on the Gold Coast after the Tatt’s Cup and the five-year-old gelding has thrived in the warm Queensland winter.

“I was up there last week and he looks really good,” Ryan said.

“He’s a lovely little horse, quiet, no hassle and easy to train.

“Obviously I haven’t had him for that long but he’s not a horse you have to hurt with work. He pretty much keeps himself fit.”

Before the Tatt’s Cup, Shoreham ran in the Andrew Ramsden Stakes (3200m) at Flemington on May 23.

With that in mind, and the fact Shoreham was fully fit, the trainer has tried to put some freshness back in the gelding’s legs.

“The week after he arrived, he started to jump around the place,” Ryan said.

“I’ve been working him with short, sharp stuff. There is more freshness back in his legs.

“It’s hard to say he has improved, other than to say he’s done really well, but he pulled up after the Gold Coast like a horse that would take improvement from the run and I think he has.

“The Grafton Cup looks a tough, even race but a race within Shoreham’s reach.”

Brenton Avdulla will ride Shoreham who is an $8.50 chance with Kapour the TAB’s dominant $3.40 favourite.

Article from justhorseracing.com.au