News

Birchley steals show at Grafton

18th Jul 2010

Herald Sun - Nathan Exelby - Thursday, 15 July 2010

TWIN Wing caused a mild boilover in the day's feature, but it was trainer Liam Birchley who stole the show at the Grafton Cup meeting.

Though not represented in the cup, Birchley saddled four winners on the program, highlighted by Falco Star in the Sir James Kirby and Liesele, who took out a $50,000 Inglis Bonus in the two-year-old feature. The Eagle Farm trainer also won the opening event with Amazing Dane and the Class 2 with the impressive Favela Star.

Stathi Katsidis rode the latter three of Birchley's winners.

"Most days are stones, but diamonds are good and we will celebrate a bit tonight," Birchley said.

"Sometimes the races work out for you and the horses are in the right races. Most times things don't work out.

"This is a very competitive carnival and you are normally happy to get a single winner let alone four.

"I'm very proud."

Liesele and Favela Star were among a host of heavily backed winners over the two-day carnival, but bookmakers did have a small reprieve when Twin Wing worried Gold Coast stayer Frozone out of the major end of the prize in the $150,000 cup.

"What a grand old horse he is," trainer Guy Walter said of the rising eight-year-old.

"He's a Grafton Cup winner now ... he's won a Lord Mayor's Cup, a Winter Cup. He never runs a bad race, a magnificent horse."

The victory completed the big Grafton double for jockey Jay Ford, having won the Ramornie on Takeover Target in 2004.

"When he can get the lead and get left alone in front, he gets into a rhythm and just keeps going," Ford said.

Jockey Michael Cahill offered no excuses for beaten favourite Ironstein ($2.90), who didn't show the same turn of foot as he had in previous wins, but battled on solidly for third.

"He had a good run and was nice and relaxed, but he just didn't quicken under me and the 57kg had to be a factor," Cahill said.

"I think he will get further than 2400m in time and he hasn't reached his full potential."