Iluka trainer Mick Patterson rates Stark Warning as the best of his two chances at tonight’s Grafton meeting.
Patterson, who trained former NSW Stayer of the Year He Knows Uno, rugs up handy pair Jessie Kathleen (box two) in the Clarence Valley Sheds 0-1 Wins Stakes (race five, 480m) and Stark Warning in a competitive 4/5th grade Renzo Park Stakes (race six, 480m).
Stark Warning has endured an injury-hampered career but showed what he is capable of with an impressive 27.43 win over this track and distance two starts back.
As in that victory, Stark Warning will jump from box one – a draw in which he has a record of one win and three minor placings in five previous starts.
“I don’t think Stark Warning can go faster than 27.43 but a repeat would go close. The draw has really helped his chances too,” Patterson said.
“I think Stark Warning’s my best hope, purely because Jessie Kathleen’s an unknown quantity over this distance,” Patterson said.
Jessie Kathleen saluted over the 420m at Lismore last month on her second start and looks capable of bouncing back from a below-par effort over the 520m at Albion Park last week.
“Jessie Kathleen just didn’t handle Albion Park but she’s a railer and again this draw is a plus. Her last sectional at Lismore over the 420m was good too so she may handle the distance,” Patterson said.
“I’m hopefully with both of them but I have more confidence in Stark Warning.”
In other Grafton action tonight, Nova De Kahn (box two) looks the night’s best bet in the Willow Park Pre-Training Maiden (race four, 305m).
The Stephen Keep-trained greyhound only finished seventh at her last start at Grafton on October 31 but recorded two decent placings at the same track prior to that run and has shown ability.
Slick Jappa (box one), from the gun local kennel of Sonia Kempshall, can score a win in a high-quality Ladbrokes Boost Best 8 Stakes (race seven, 407m).
A winner over the 407m at Grafton two starts back, Slick Jappa looks well drawn to score his second win in his past three starts, having saluted three times and placed twice in six previous starts wearing the red rug.
Vision Time (box five) showed good early speed winning over the 411m at Casino on debut and looks the top pick in the 5th grade Village Green Hotel 1-2 Wins (race eight, 305m).
For Grafton Monday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
