KEMBLA GRANGE MARE IN GREAT SHAPE FOR RAMORNIE TILT

• 

KEMBLA Grange trainer Paul Murray says Harry’s Bar is in great shape ahead of Wednesday’s $200,000 Listed Ramornie Handicap (1200m) at Grafton.

Murray arrived in Grafton at lunchtime yesterday with three horses – two will race today – after an early morning start from his home base, and hopes to emulate his legendary late father Bede by winning a major race at Clarence River Jockey Club’s famous July carnival.

Bede Murray won the Listed Grafton Cup in 1999 with Count Scenario, ridden by now Brisbane trainer Chris Munce.

Ironically, Munce, who trains in partnership with his son Corey, may be in an opposite corner to Paul Murray on Wednesday with recent New Zealand acquisition Kitty Flash a Ramornie entry.

“I can’t recall Dad ever having a runner in the Ramornie, but well remember him winning the Cup with Count Scenario,” Murray said this morning.

“Harry’s Bar couldn’t be in better shape for Wednesday’s race.

• 

“She travelled well with stablemates Winning Point and Vantante, and is very bright.

“She had a trot and canter this morning, and I’m looking forward to hopefully getting a good barrier for the Ramornie.

“She will definitely get her chance to win with the limit weight (54kg).”

Harry’s Bar had the same weight when she won the $200,000 Wagga Town Plate (1200m) on April 30 before finishing a close fifth (not far behind runner-up and subsequent Winter Stakes winner General Salute) to Wanaruah in the Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m) at Royal Randwick on June 6.

“The Ramornie has always been Harry’s Bar target,” Murray said.

“It would be a special achievement to win two of country racing’s feature sprints with her this season.”

Prior to acceptances for both the Ramornie and Cup at 9am tomorrow (Monday), Harry’s Bar was at $9, with Brisbane-trained Australian Bloodstock-raced Pereille the early $4.50 favorite with TAB.com.au.

The Kris Lees-trained Brudenell, the other provincial entry for the Ramornie, is at $21.

Aaron Bullock will ride Brudenell if he draws well, but Lees also has Saturday’s July Sprint (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens as a fallback option.

• 

Brudenell’s stablemate Rustemo, third in the Winx Guineas (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast yesterday week, will be hard to beat if he lines up in Wednesday’s Grafton Guineas over the same distance.

Rustemo has been in brilliant form this preparation, winning his first three starts at Scone, Hawkesbury and Sunshine Coast before his excellent performance at the latter track last week.

Murray will start both Winning Point (South Grafton Cup, 1610m) and Vantante (Class 1 Handicap, 1006m) at today’s second meeting of the carnival.

Harry’s Bar’s rider Jean Van Overmeire will partner the pair.

Winning Point was sixth emergency for the South Grafton Cup, which carries eligibility for the $3m Big Dance at Royal Randwick on November 3, and was able to sneak into the field courtesy of a host of withdrawals.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, JULY 11, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS