Emotion to the Max
Whitby misses grafton cup but eyes Ramornie with duo
OWNER Max Whitby will have mixed emotions when he returns to the two-day Grafton Cup carnival today.
“I’ve always wanted to win the Grafton Cup and after 34 years of trying we finally won it last year with First Crush,’’ Whitby said.
“But, unfortunately I couldn’t go as (wife) Jen was very sick. Sadly, she died a week after the race.
“The month of July is a bit of a tough one for me but I’m up in Grafton again and I’m having a good time with some mates.
“We wanted to get First Crush here for the Grafton Cup (tomorrow) but that didn’t work out, so now we are hoping for a result in the Ramornie.’’
Whitby is a part-owner of Smartypy and Snoopy, both rated each-way chances in today’s Listed $160,000 Ramornie Handicap (1200m).
The sprinters are trained at Eagle Farm by Chris Munce, the former champion jockey who rode the Whitbyowned Savabeel to win the 2003 Cox Plate.
“Chris said both horses are going well, he can’t really split them,’’ Whitby said.
Munce is confident about chances of Smartypy, who made it three wins and two minor placings from her past five starts when she won at Ipswich recently.
“With a light weight I think she is up to Ramornie class,” Munce said.
“The good thing was the Ipswich win meant I didn’t have to run her again to qualify for the Ramornie.”
Munce said Snoopy and Smartypy had different racing styles with Snoopy liking to be near the lead.
“Snoopy is going well and he has already shown he is up to Listed class,” Munce said.
In early Ladbrokes betting, Smartypy is at $10 and stablemate Snoopy is at $18.
Murwillumbah star Care To Think is the $3.80 Ramornie favourite.
Whitby races Smartypy and Snoopy in partnership with Neil Werrett, of Black Caviar fame. The two men also share a $14 million The Everest slot and have selected outstanding filly Sunlight to race for them in the world’s richest turf race at Randwick on October 19.
Gold Coast and Tweed trainers have a strong hand in the Ramornie, with Toby Edmonds represented by three runners – Havasay, Keen Array and Whypeeo.
Last year’s Ramornie winner Havasay has again been switched from Brisbane trainer Liam Birchley to Edmonds for a tilt at the race.
Birchley is barred from training in NSW and Havasay went to Edmonds last year for the Ramornie.