Looker doubles up in the Cup Prelude

BY TIM HOWARD

Former local jockey Ben Looker has piloted his second winner in as many years into the city’s premier horse racing event.

A 10-out-of-10 ride from looker has given six-year-old gelding Our Bambino an automatic berth into the Westlawn Finance Grafton Cup on July 13.

It was a career highlight for trainer Patrick Murphy, who brought the horse up from Goulburn specifcally for a berth in the Cup.

Murphy said he had been “very confdent” Our Bambino could win the McKimms Real Estate Grafton Cup Quality Prelude (2230m), but he said the Grafton Cup would be a “step up”.

“If the horse has the same attitude as he showed today he had every chance,” Murphy said.

Coming to Grafton in July has fgured in the lives of many racing people who bring horses here chasing Cup glory and Murphy was no exception.

“I’ve been coming to Grafton ever since I was one year old,” he said.

“Mum and dad brought us here for holidays so I’ve got lots of good memories.

“I did my apprenticeship as a jockey in Coffs Harbour, so it’s always good to come here and catch up.”

Murphy, who has been train for two years, described Our Bambino as his best horse.

“He won at Kembla for me in recent weeks and stepped up again today,” he said.

“He’s been racing and performing in the country and in town. This is his seventh win for me.

“These sort of races – country cups – are his sort of races.”

Although Sunday’s win signalled success in the frst part of Our Bambino’s campaign,

Murphy said he would be cautious with him.

“At the moment we’re saying he’s likely to be in the Cup, but we’ll see how he pulls up,” he said.

Overall Sunday’s racing pleased CRJC executive offcer Michael Beattie.

He said it was a big improvement on the opening day last year, marred by a horror fall which seriously injured Grafton jockey Leah Kilner and forced the postponement of four races.

Beattie was also delighted with the quality of the racing, believing it was a vindication of the prelude day format.

“Five of the races on prelude day guarantee automatic entry to races later in the carnival for the winners,” he said.

“I know the winners of the Grafton Cup Prelude (Our Bambino) and the John Carlton Cup (Lou Mary) brought them here specifcally to gain entry for the Grafton Cup and the Ramornie Handicap.

“The format of the racing has been built around the idea Prelude day will encourage trainers to take in interest in the whole carnival and it is clearly working.

“I think, despite the crowd being down slightly, it was a really good day of racing.”

Beattie said attention now turned to Sunday’s South Grafton Cup, which has beneftted from becoming a qualifying event for the $3million Big Dance to be run at Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day.

“Last year was the frst time the South Grafton Cup was a Big Dance qualifer and it attracted a quality feld,” he said.

“The 2022 South Cup winner, Surf Dancer, went on to have Group wins, won at the Sydney Spring Carnival and the Brisbane Winter Carnival.

“That’s how strong that has made the race.”

He said his weather forecaster have predicted sunny conditions. And he is keeping his fngers crossed.

Casino. RSM Womens Bowls results

Today we had 2 rinks of social bowls & the result for Wednesday.

27/6 was:

Winners of the day calculated on the lowest margin were: C. Doyle, J. Creighton & M. Hellyar def K. McKay, C. Haynes & H. Lavelle with one shot the difference.

The other social game winner was:

A. James, M. Jordan, J. Cooke & R. Skirrey def

A. James, L. James, J. Dwyer & I. Watson.

The frst round of the Club selected pairs starts on Wednesday 5/7.

Cherry Street Croquet Club Sports Results

TOURNAMENTS : Gold Coast Tweed

Region Association Croquet Mens Open.

M.Gidding 1, M.Biddle

2, D.Luxmore 3, R.Smillie 4. Over 70s : P.Deeth 1, E.Burridge

2, B.Rubeck 3, L.Parker 4, P.Martin 5, G.Martin 6.

M.Hains 1, S.Oeding

M.O Doherty 2, P.Scott G.Porter 3, R.Poynting

D Jones 4.

Final W : N.Watts

L.Hudson 1, J.Hart

G.Modlich 2, J.Charnock N.King 3.

NSW Advantage Singles Championships:

Final X : M.Carwood 1, S.Daley 2, C.Cox 3, R.Poynting 4.

Final Z : G.Knight 1, P.Gentle 2, C.Beaton 3, J.Hannigan 4.

Norman Watts, winners of the W Advantage Croquet doubles fnal with Col Beaton Byron Bay Club President.

Coraki Veterans Golf Results

THURSDAY 29/6/23

GOLFING

EVANS HEAD

WOMENS BOWLS

Evans Head Ladies held our Leo & Toni

McDonald Memorial Gala Four on 28-06-23

Winners - Evans Head

- P. Marsh, P. Basso, G. Orchard, J. Jones.

Second RoundAlstonville- +15 - R. Esler, K. Howard, M. Becquet, J. Lowein.

MAHJONG 30th

June, 2023

NSW Golf Croquet Advantage Handicap Doubles Championships:

Final X : S.Daley

M.Mitchell 1, C.Cox J.Hannigan 2, M.Carwood P.Gentle 3, W.Fryer M Hughes 4.

Final Z : S.Cook

P.Scofeld 1, S.Elliott

G.Leach 2,G.Knight

H.McCalman 3.

Final Y : S.Bryan

Final Plate : G.Porter 1, G.Modlich 2, H.McCalman 3, L Hudson 4.

Sponsorship: Thank you Cherry Street Sports & Bowling Club McGrath Realestate Ballina Coffee & Kitchen Ballina

Toyota Ballina Club Byron Libby Hudson,

44 Players on Thursday winner N Cupitt 2nd L Bonner 3rd A Ganter free game T Duff, chicken/ ball winners T Doyle, M Fairfull, T Newton, W Herbert, I Welsh, J Weaver S Toms, K Lloyd, T Perkins, W Swindle. Nearest pins 3rd/12th 6th/15th S Ormond.

This Thursday golfers are asked to arrive on time for the monthly medal followed by the barbque the match committee would like to get the feld away a little earlier if possible please.

AS USUAL TILL THEN GOOD

- 2W+34 - L. Vidler, G. Marczan, B. Montague, S. Downs.

Runners/up - Evans

Head - 2W+29 - M. Adams, M. Carey, V. Hart, T. Cselka.

Third Place - Cabarita

- 2W+23 - K. Potter, J. Fisher, C. Glew, S. Goode.

First RoundAlstonville - +14

Susan Scott, 2. Lorna Simpson, 3. Pam Farrell, 4. Wendy Thornton, 5. Barbara Ellan, Bev Lasater, 7. Pauline Kearney, 8. Ann Hewitt, 9. Jan Small, Lesley Ritchie, Ronda Taylor, 12. Shirley Coleman, 13. Sarah Bull, 14. Margaret Bryant, Lauren Rosenberg, 16. Sally Lowry, 17. Jan Boardman, 18. Valda McLerie, 19. Yvonne Weddup, 20. Linda Lovett, 21. Jan Henley, 22. Shirley Atkinson, 23. Vanessa Reynolds, 24. Jenny Lang, 25. Cindy Smith, 26. Lisa Wong, 27. Diana Auret.