DRAW CRUCIAL TO MARE’S RAMORNIE PROSPECTS

MONDAY’S crucial barrier draw will determine whether in form Hawkesbury mare Lady Extreme heads north for Grafton’s Ramornie Handicap (1200m) on Wednesday.

Whilst trainer Blake Ryan is happy with Lady Extreme’s progress, he says she firstly needs to make the field for the Jacaranda City’s feature sprint – and then draw well.

Prior to acceptances being taken on Monday morning, Lady Extreme was 20^th in order of ballot (16 can run with provision for six emergencies) for the $200,000 Listed event.

Lady Extreme has won her last two starts in town at Rosehill Gardens, and deserves her chance to add black type to her portfolio.

“Alysha Collett has ridden her in both recent victories, and is happy to stay with her at Grafton,” Ryan said today.

“But firstly the mare has to be in the final 16 tomorrow, and also draw well.

“Even if she is first emergency, I won’t bother taking her.

“There are suitable races coming up in Sydney, but I’m keen to have a crack at the Ramornie if everything works out.”

Leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees has topweight Brudenell (60kg), but the prolific winner (10 from 29 starts and earnings approaching $1m) is not a certain starter.

“At this stage, we’re more likely to wait for the July Sprint (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday,” stable spokesman Danny Greer said today.

Three of Brudenell’s victories have been at 1100m, and he has won twice at Rosehill.

Meanwhile leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup claimed his 57^th winner of the season (and the Hawkesbury training base’s 160^th) when Audrey’s Lane was successful at Newcastle yesterday.

It wasn’t the easiest win on the eight-race program, but undoubtedly the toughest.

Heavily backed to start a $1.60 favorite in the Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (1400m), Audrey’s Lane was forced to race wide throughout.

Despite jockey Chad Lever’s best efforts, Audrey’s Lane could not get cover and looked in danger on the home turn.

When eventual third placegetter, Wyong trainer Sara Ryan’s How Much Better ($8.50) hit the front in the straight, Lever switched his mount back to the inside.

Vigorously ridden, Audrey’s Lane responded by overhauling How Much Better and then stalling the late surge of runner-up California Secret ($6.50).

“She did a fantastic job for sure,” Widdup said. “There’s no doubt she has come back really well.

“Audrey’s Lane was beaten first-up at Hawkesbury on June 24 by a very smart horse Bella Corazon (coincidentally raced by a number of owners of Widdup’s now retired Group 1 winning mare Icebath).”

Audrey’s Lane, a four-year-old daughter of Pierro, was offered for sale at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter yearling sale, but was passed in at $500,000.

“She was bred by Ian and Linda Duckworth at their Fairview Park Stud at Grose Wold, and is named after Linda’s mother,” Widdup said.

“They decided to race Audrey’s Lane themselves with family and friends with the intention of breeding from her when her racing career ends.

“Audrey’s Lane has been a slow maturer, but is putting it all together now and pulled up well from yesterday’s race.

“She is building a nice record, having now won three races and been placed four times from only nine starts.

“Hopefully we can add to that with a city success this time in work.”

Audrey’s Lane’s backers were of course thankful of Lever’s vigour in the straight to get her home, but RacingNSW stewards took a different view.

They reported he used the whip on nine occasions prior to the 100m, but took no other action other than issuing a reprimand given his previous exemplary record in relation to the whip rule.

Kembla Grange apprentice Holly Durnan boosted her season’s tally to 33 (and a career 80) with a Newcastle double yesterday.

She won on her master Mitch Beer’s two-year-old filly Pewter Pearl ($7.50) in the opener, and later on Randwick trainer John Sargent’s $3.20 favorite Hooligan Tommy.

Story John Curtis, July 13. 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos