Tasty entree in Grafton a prelude to main course

Some of the better sprinters around greater northern NSW lock horns in a feature sprinting entree at Tuesday’s Grafton meeting just 15 days before the main course is served.

The always anticipated Jacaranda Cup pathway has its Prelude over 1100m before the Cup itself is run at Grafton on Wednesday Nov 2, with the Prelude winner exempted from the ballot.

And while the Prelude shapes as an ideal race for several runners in and around the North Coast, a Queensland raider looms as the one to beat.

Tough and still lightly raced six-year-old Daltoro is based at Kris Lees’ Gold Coast stable, and looks ready to strike after four runs this prep. He was in hot Grafton form in autumn winning two straight at the track, including a BM 86 The Jackal Flying over 950m.

Drawn to park right behind the speed, Daltoro this time comes off consecutive placings in stronger Class 6 fields at Doomben and Ipswich over the border, and boasts an impressive near 25 per cent win record from only 26 starts, with a further 13 placings.

Yet not surprisingly, one of the biggest dangers comes through that same midweek Class 6 at Doomben over 1050m on September 21 run in slick time.

Grafton-trained six-year-old Hidden Hail finished less than four lengths from the winner, and two lengths behind Daltoro, and has been kept fresh since.

But the Jacaranda Cup Prelude is far from a two-horse race.