Champion trainer Peter Snowden’s bid for a record-extending seventh Ramornie Handicap (1200m) win in 2026 has encountered a setback, with Fire Star drawing the outermost barrier for the Listed $200,000 feature event at Grafton on Wednesday. Fire Star was allocated barrier 14 in the Ramornie, which has drawn a full complement of 16 runners plus five emergencies. Snowden’s sprinter might shift inwards to barrier 11 depending on scratchings.
Snowden has an impressive record in the Ramornie Handicap, achieving six victories over the past 16 years with notable horses including Ka Bling (2024), Ranges (2022), Signore Fox (2020), Calanda (2017), Jerezana (2011), and Pinwheel (2010). TAB Fixed Odds assessors are mindful of Snowden’s Ramornie history and have Fire Star priced at $10 in the early betting, placing it behind the Tony Gollan-trained Perielle, the current $4.80 favourite.
The Clarence River Jockey Club’s midweek racing schedule also includes the Listed $200,000 Grafton Cup (2350m) on Thursday, attracting a quality field of stayers. The Tom Charlton-trained King Pedro, fresh off a win in the Stayers Cup at Rosehill, is the $2.40 favourite in initial markets, followed by Pounding and So You Are at $6.
Michael Beattie, the CRJC chief executive, expressed his delight with the calibre of fields for both the Ramornie Handicap and the Grafton Cup. “The Ramornie is a bit of a stand-alone for the genuine 1200m horse, it’s like we are the only show in town at this time of year,” Beattie commented. “But that is not the case for the Grafton Cup so I am especially pleased with the field we have for Thursday’s race. The handicappers have come up with a good weight scale for the Cup and that has virtually ‘invited’ all the better horses to come for the race.”
Beattie indicated that the Grafton track raced favourably during the recent South Grafton Cup meeting, where the Charlton stable secured a potential feature race double with Mr Chaplin’s win in a Big Dance qualifier. He confirmed, however, that the rail will be returned to the true position for the Wednesday and Thursday race meetings.
For those interested in betting on the Ramornie Handicap, exploring the racing betting markets at various sports betting platforms could offer competitive odds.
