Comeback jockey Josh Adams is back aboard The Monstar who heads up the final field for the 2017 Listed $160,000 Grafton District Services Club Ramornie Handicap (1200m) at Grafton on Wednesday.
Jockey Josh Adams will ride The Monstar, above, in the 2017 Ramornie Handicap at Grafton. Photo by Daniel Costello.
The Brett Cavanough trained The Monstar, with 59.5kg, sits at the top of the Ramornie Handicap field that is made up of sixteen starters plus four emergencies.
Adams was board The Monstar two starts back for an all the way win in the Listed $150,000 June Stakes (1100m) at Randwick on June 10 and will replace Dean Yendall who had the sit last start when the California Dane gelding ran a mighty race to finish second to Gold Symphony in the Listed $150,000 Civic Stakes (1350m) at Rosehill on July 1.
Adams has only been back riding for a couple of months following a two and half year ban for drug related offences and was ecstatic to be back in the winner’s circle at Randwick on The Monstar following the June Stakes victory.
“It has been a long day and I thought this would never happen again. I want to thank the connections and Brett entrusting me with the ride. It meant a lot to have that trust put in me and to come here today and make the most of it,” Adams said after the June Stakes win.
“It has been a long battle, it has been pretty well documented I have had my demons, something I have dealt with while I have been away.
“When I decided to come back I never thought I would be back at Randwick. I thought if I could get some rides and chip away I would be happy with that. This is much better than that and I have to thank all the people behind me, Mum and Dad, Grant Allard, my girlfriend Jess and a lot of people who have been there behind the scenes through thick and thin, so thank you to them.
“I am just going to keep turning up and doing my best every time I go around.”
Trainer Ron Quinton will put his faith in apprentice Andrew Adkins again to take the reins on last start winner Boss Lane in the Ramornie Handicap.
Adkins has been Boss Lane’s regular rider since the Spring last year and the pair combined last start to win the $100,000 Winter Dash (1200m) at Randwick on June 24.
The Peter and Paul Snowden trained Flippant is also a final acceptor for the Ramornie Handicap and will go into the Grafton feature sprint following a first up fifth to Burning Passion in the Group 3 $175,000 W.J. Healy Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on June 24.
The Snowdens will also saddle up three year old Calanda with Jim Byrne to ride.
