A few weeks back I brought you the story of Grafton's own enigma racehorse in the Jason Reilly trained KNIGHT TEMPLAR after he bolted in at Armidale. Since then he has been down the track twice before returning to his brilliant best at Port Macquarie on Sunday under the velvet hands of Kirk Matheson to blow the opposition off the park in the BM 64 1106m. However it is with great sadness that today I want to focus on one of the KNIGHT TEMPLAR camp who is no longer with us. Warwick Hall had over the past few years become a regular at Grafton races he and his partner Jan hardly missed a meeting. Everybody knew Warwick even those that did not know they knew him will soon realise they did. Warwick was always on for a chat he loved racing and racing people. His smiling face could pop up at almost any track both horses and greyhounds, he always had something nice to say. I say part of the KNIGHT TEMPLAR camp because his name was not in the book that honour was reserved for his beloved Jan. However Warwick was a regular at trackwork chatting about all things racing with the locals on an almost daily basis. Warwick and Jan were at Port on Sunday to watch the champ go round and there is no doubt Warwick would have been as proud as punch when Knight TEMPLAR bolted in. I am told is was his first visit to Port races so that would have made the win even better as he reminisced on a previous holiday visit to Port the town that apparently was a little more costly. The trip home would have been wonderful, we have all been there reliving the win over and over in our minds and planning our next inevitable victory. Sadly for Warwick that trip came to an abrupt end about 20 klms from home. He told Jan he felt crook but before he could pull off the road he was gone in a millisecond. In our culture death has a funny way of improving your reputation .....lots of pretty ordinary people all of sudden become good blokes on the news of their passing. This will not be the case with Warwick he was the quintessential "Good Bloke" everybody knew him and everybody liked him..... it was just his way. Yesterday as I broke the sad news to people I thought would want to know about his passing I kept getting the same result "who are you talking about was the response." To the girls in my office he was "the passionfruit man" to the lady on the corner shop he was " three coffees for the boys at the track' to one of my committeemen he was " yes I know who you mean now I had a yarn with him every meeting" but they all had one thing in common Warwick was a good bloke. We will all miss him..... to so many who did not know his name he will simply disappear and quickly as he appeared. For those of you who do not know who I am on about I have attached a photo after a recent win Warwick is on the left .... I bet you know him now. RIP Warwick Hall.

The Grafton showcase meeting on Friday looked like it was in doubt on more than one occasion but with great efforts from all involved the meeting went ahead without any major issues much to the glee of a number of Grafton based trainers. The first celebrating was Ally Ryan when outsider of the field JAMESLEA WORLD shared the lead for the most of the 1006m Maiden before finding plenty for Carla Dougherty in the run to the finish to score in a very close photo. It was the first run this preparation for the gelding who looked at very much at home on the rain effected track. Daniel Want continued on his great recent form when CENTRAL WITNESS came with a well timed run to break through in the Maiden 1406m. Having his second run for the yard CENTRAL WITNESS was allowed to settle midfield by Matt Bennett before working his way into the clear shortly after straightening and then finishing strongly all the way to the post to win with something in reserve. Winner number three gave the other top stable in town John Shelton another winner when the inform ARLINGTON HEIGHTS made it two wins from his last three with a strong win in the Class1 1706m. Ridden by Matt Paget ARLINGTON HEIGHTS was always in a prominent position racing outside the leader before Paget said go at the top of the straight and ARLINGTON HEIGHTS quickly put the issue beyond any doubt dashing away to win eased down by an ever increasing three lengths. If he keeps improving ARLINGTON HEIGHTS may well be a lightweight chance in the upcoming Tursa Inglis Grafton Guineas on Ramornie day. Race eight the Class 3 1206m looked in grave danger of not being run when a heavy storm drenched the track in the lead up however after a track inspection by officials it was decided to push on and team Henley were very happy that they did. BAROQUE GIRL was having its first run for the stable and after travelling well throughout the race was moved into the clear by Luke Dittman on the point of the home turn and came with a well timed run to score an impressive victory. Henley declared after the race that a race like the South Grafton Cup 1600m was not beyond the Sebring mare.

On behalf of all at the CRJC I would like to publicly thank and congratulate all the riders and officials for the manner in which they handled the situation at Grafton races today. There is no doubt that immediately after each shower of rain the visibility in the races was effected however it improved once the rain stopped. To push on and review race by race kept the meeting going which saw almost a quarter of million dollars in prize money and riding fees distributed. To all involved thanks again.

Ulmarra Chip In Cup Day

The annual Ulmarra Chip In Cup race day has been joined with the Annual Grafton Truck show as such it will be a massive day at the races with lots of free entertainment satalls plus a huge concert by country music star Adam Eckersley after the races

There is no doubt that the staff at CRJC Lodge the home of team Shelton have been looking for a change of luck and Kempsey last Sunday proved to be just that when EXCELLERO just lasted to win the Class 2 1250m. EXCELLERO has always promised to win another race but had trouble getting over the line recently. In the run on Sunday you could have been forgiven for thinking that the bad luck was set to continue when EXCELLERO was trapped in the cheap seats without cover three wide for the journey. However Jackson Murphy did not panic and with the help of his claim the mare found enough to just score in a very tricky photo. The win by EXCELLERO was very much overshadowed by a nasty fall coming to the 100 meters when the Jason Reilly trained Ministry Of Fear crashed to the track giving rider Matt McGuren a heavy tumble. Whilst McGuren was quick to his feet and walked back to the Jockeys Room unaided Ministry Of Fear looked to be in a bad way as he attempted to recover from the incident. It is fair to say most who saw him after the race expected the gelding would need to be euthanised, however despite the obvious effect on the horses gait the ontrack vet was confident it was a soft tissue injury that would resolve with care. The good news is after a few days R&R the gelding is back in Grafton and appears to be on the mend. Might even be better than winning a race after all.

Whilst Dwayne Schmidt might not have the years of experience of Neville Stewart to call upon at a tried horse sale he is no stranger to finding the right horse. Coffs Harbour last Friday and Schmidt was there with his latest "Melbourne Model" DIVAJEU had been purchased at the most recent sale in Melbourne and pre race Schmidt was confident she would run well in the 3yo Maiden 1200m. Drawn perfectly in gate one DIVAJEU was given the run of the race just behind the leaders by Craig Franklin before gaining an inside run rounding the home turn to dash to the lead at the 200m and hold on to win well. It was revealed after the race as a yearling DIVAJEU was selected by Tim Roberts the stable vet for the Chris Waller yard and that Chris's wife had been involved in the previous ownership group.

It was veterans day at Grafton races yesterday when two of the more experienced brigade showed the youngsters a trick or two. Neville Stewart made it four wins from ten starts with former Melbourne mare PUSH THE SKY AWAY when Craig Franklin produced a rails hugging ride to win the Class 3 1406m. PUSH THE SKY AWAY settled just off the pace and Franklin kept saving ground throughout and did not go around a horse to scoot through and find the top in the shadows of the post. Stewart is no stranger to buying tried racehorses in fact thirty years ago Nifty was a regular at the tried sales and more often than not returned home with a future winner. Time has changed little with Stewart picking up good winners out of the Melbourne Sales over the past couple of years. But the only place success comes before work is in the dictionary and Stewart puts in plenty of work before finally deciding on his final purchase at any sale. Hunter Kilner surprised many when he was able to keep the speed in the legs of STEVE'S SURPRISE to win the open Hcp 1106m. Many thought the gelding would be looking for more ground following his last start win at the Gold Coast over 1200m. Ridden by Matt Paget STEVE'S SURPRISE settled well back in a fast run race and Paget worked his way into the clear from the the 400m. STEVE'S SURPRISE came with a well timed run to score running away and although he might have been looking for longer the 1106m proved to be just right.

Anzac Day racing was at Kempsey and plenty of Grafton trainers made the trip south in search of a winner. For Jason Reilly it was a case of deja vu when ENSIGN made it his third career win in the Diggers Cup 1250m. ENSIGN had previously provided Reilly with his first career win as trainer at Kempsey last season. That win was a massive 21 starts ago but in that time the gelding had almost never run a bad race earning minor prize money on many occasions. Now that he is back in winning form another win might come up soon. ENSIGN was ridden by Carla Dougherty who was happy to sit second in the run before shooting the top early in the straight to go on and win well.

As is so often the case Grafton trainers were to the fore at the local meeting on Monday with a winning double. There was a huge contingent of supporters on track from the John Shelton yard to cheer home ARLINGTON HEIGHTS in the Maiden 1700m. Ridden by Matt Paget ARLINGTON HEIGHTS was always in a forward position after surrendering the lead to one of his main dangers near the 1000m. After heads were turned for home Paget was first to challenge and simply outstayed his rivals in the run to the finish. The stable are confident the gelding will develop into a solid middle distance performer as he matures. The Showcase Flying 1000m was a mini Kirby with plenty of speed on paper and it looked made to measure for a horse that could race off the pace and dash home. Whilst AIMALAC MILLIE can show gate speed she has a world-wind finish when ridden back and that was tactic used on Monday. Ridden by Scott Galloway AIMLAC MILLIE raced midfield before rounding them up with ease below the the 200m to win with plenty in reserve. The win was the fourth this season for Danni Cunningham who is in her first full season of training.

https://www.dailyexaminer.com.au/news/gdsc-comes-board-ramornie-major-sponsor/3171801/?ref=hs

While the Easter Bunny might have been busy over the weekend so too have Grafton Trainers who have been on the road in search of winners for easter. Andrew Parramore continued his best season as a trainer when SHORELINE made it two on the trot when a big winner at Coffs Harbour on Saturday in the BM 55 1215m. Ridden by inform apprentice Jackson Murphy SHORELINE travelled well midfield before working her way into the clear near the 300m and sprinting away to win with something in reserve. Veteran trainer Hunter Kilner was forced to head over the border in search of a suitable race for talented sprinter STEVE'S SURPRISE. With a rating figure in excess of 70 and those races difficult to find in NSW the idea of the set weight Class Six event over 1200m was very inviting. Add to that the luxury of a good barrier and it was all steam ahead in search of a Queensland victory. Ridden by Scott Galloway the STEVE'S SURPRISE was given the run of the race stalking the leaders before Galloway shifted into the clear at the 300m. STEVE'S SURPRISE was then involved in a tooth and nail battle all the way to the post before getting the judges nod in a very tricky finish that had many fooled. There is little doubt Kilner will jw have the thinking cap on to prepare the gelding for a shot at the Casino Beef Week Cup 1400m in May.

Grafton raced last Tuesday and again more winners were heading the way of the locals with two stables finding their way to the winners room. First to celebrate was Gordon Yorke when SHE CLANGS scored a solid win in the Maiden 1006m. Ridden by Belinda Hodder SHE CLANGS began well from its inside gate however when challenged early on Hodder was happy to take the drag and allow the filly to have the drop on the leader. The tactic proved to be a winner with SHE CLANGS racing to the top shortly after straightening and finding plenty in the run to the line to win well. Dwayne Schmidt has been happy to tell anyone that would listen that SVITANYA was better than average she was beaten into second place first up by her stablemate at Kempsey but in the 1206m Maiden at Grafton she proved far too strong. Given the run of the race just off the pace by Jackson Murphy SVITANYA got a dream rails run to take control at the 300m and although racing a little greenly in the run to the finish was never really in danger of defeat. The win keeps Schmidt in the run to be the leading Grafton trainer this season.