Paul Murray will launch another Cup raid this week when the Kembla trainer travels north with a strong team for the beginning of the annual Grafton July Carnival.
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![CARNIVAL: Coolotta, pictured winning at Wagga, will head north to Grafton in the next week. Picture: LES SMITH CARNIVAL: Coolotta, pictured winning at Wagga, will head north to Grafton in the next week. Picture: LES SMITH](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/XCm49CJKm9mdRGwEw4fSzj/1c1ed407-9791-41e6-bb44-1da70eb0a74f.jpg/r0_0_1040_675_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Murray, whose family have been long time supporters of Clarence River Jockey Club’s premier carnival, plans to take four horses up the coast, including a runner for the $160,000 Listed Grafton District Services Club Ramornie Handicap (1200m).
Consistent six-year-old O’Reilly Revenge will be aimed at the Ramornie next Wednesday, with Coolotta, Termele and Darcy’s Affair also set to make the trip.
Termele will kick things off for the stable when she contests the John Calton Cup Quality (1206m) this Thursday.
The mare is coming off a last start success at the Sapphire Coast.
“She has worked good since her last race,” Murray said.
“Even though she has only been at Wagga and the Sapphire Coast, she has done well.
“We thought we might as well head that way and see how she performs.
“There isn’t many open handicaps down this way, so she is still eligible for that.
“She is tough and she will back up seven days later in a Class 6.”
Murray also intends to run Darcy’s Affair in the South Grafton Quality Cup (1610m) on Sunday, with Coolotta set to tackle a 1400m event.
- SEASON WINDING DOWN
While most of the Kembla premierships look to be locked up, Gwenda Markwell still has hope of running down the Chris Waller juggernaut in the overall trainers title race.
With two meeting remaining at the Illawarra Turf Club, Waller (111) holds an 11 point lead on Markwell (100) in the standings.
Markwell (10 wins) is in the box seat to add a 15th consecutive Kembla trainers premiership.
The trainer remains six wins clear of Theresa Bateup and Kerry Parker.
Jeff Penza (jockeys) and Rachel King (apprentices) will both take some running down in their respective title races.
- WAITING GAME
Terry Robinson remains undecided if he will run promising three-year-old Zardoro at Goulburn on Friday.
The Shoalhaven Heads trainer has nominated Zardoro for the Goulburn Mazda Class 1 Handicap (1300m), but will wait until later in the week to see if he gives the last start winner a run.
“I will leave him in the draw at this stage but I might be backing him up a bit soon,” Robinson said.
“If he does go around, this will be his last run.
“I think he is going to develop into a nice horse, but he is still learning what it is all about."