A capacitiy field of 16 for Ramornie Handicap

A capacity field of sixteen will line up in the Listed $160,000 Crowe Horwath Ramornie Handicap (1200m) at Grafton on Wednesday.

Big Money, above, will carry the top weight in The  Ramornie Handicap at Grafton. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Big Money, above, will carry the top weight in The Ramornie Handicap at Grafton. Photo by Daniel Costello.

When acceptances for the Clarence River Jockey Club’s feature Carnival sprint where taken this morning, a field of sixteen plus four emergencies shaped the final field of sprinters.

2014 Ramornie Handicap winner Big Money will carry the top weight of 59kg with high profile jockey Robert Thompson to ride while in-form Brisbane sprinter Into The Red is the second top weight with 58kg with new senior rider Luke Dittman in the saddle.

Trainer Kelso Wood said that he had set Into The Red for the Ramornie Handicap at the beginning of this campaign.

Into The Red resumed from a long injury enforced layoff to record a first up win in the Listed $100,000 Bribie Handicap (1050m) at Doomben on April 16.

The five year old then ran fifth in the Listed $100,000 Lightning Handicap (1050m) at Doomben on June 8 before returning to the winner’s circle two and half weeks later in the Group 3 $175,000 W.J. Healy Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm.

“This horse has always had a lot of ability but he has always been immature in the head and did things wrong,” Wood told The Daily Examiner.

“He did a pastern ligament and had six months off last year and that break allowed him to mature.

“I’m looking forward to getting back to Grafton – it’s been a while but I think I have the right horse to win another Ramornie.”

Wood said that he was happy to stick with Luke Dittman who has been aboard Into The Red for his last three starts.

“He’s great young jockey and he knows the horse well – I couldn’t take him off,” Wood said.

Dittman has just entered the senior riding ranks in Brisbane and has ridden forty-three metropolitan winners for the 2015 – 2016 racing season.

The Allan Denham trained Mount Nebo is also in the final field of the Ramonrie Handicap and is also back in form with a last start win over Decision Time in the $85,000 Winter Dash (1200m) at Randwick on June 25.

Brisbane jockey Glen Colless has picked up the ride on Mount Nebo, replacing Sydney based Thomas Huet.

The Clarry Conners trained Decision Time has also accepted for The Ramornie along with Echo Gal from the Gai Waterhouse stable and Godolphin’s Mogador.

Mogador was sent our as the favourite in the Healy Stakes but after being stuck in the worse part of the track still went to the line strongly to finish third to Into The Red.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.