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Trainer Rodney Northam and jockey Robert Thompson combine with Myamira in the South Grafton Cup for what they hope is a feature race treble.
The pair will also combine with Big Money in Wednesday’s $150,000 Crowe Horwath Ramornie and Husswick in the $42,000 Tursa Employment & Training Grafton Guineas (1600m) on the same day.
Thompson, 56, has an enviable record in the South Grafton Cup having won it on four occasions. His previous winners were – Brigalow (1984), Retford (1988), Shoemaker (2002) and Laogan (2008).
Last week Thompson, who has ridden more winners than any other jockey in Australia – over 4000 – recorded an amazing 10th win in the Jungle Juice Cup on his home track at Cessnock.
Myamira, a six-time winning mare is coming off an excellent last start 3.9 lengths 10th in the Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 21.
Myamira had little luck being posted four and five wide throughout.
Prior to that she resumed from a 112-day spell with a length third to Seaside in the Group Three Dark Jewel at Scone on May 17 then was sixth to Cosmic Endeavour in the Group Two Dane Ripper at Eagle Farm on June 7.
“She’s done really well since the Tiara,” Northam said. “She’s feeling well and has worked well. There are no problems.
“I’ve just kept her ticking over. She’s probably been looking for the mile at her past two starts.
“I thought her last run was probably the best of her career.
“She sat five deep. Robert (Thompson) said she was entitled to lie down in the straight after the hard run but she just kept coming.
“She’s pulled up well and is ready to go on Sunday.”
Myamira’s task has been made slightly easier with the scratching of topweight Hi Son from the David Kelly yard. At the bequest of the gelding’s owners, Hi Son will start in Brisbane on Saturday.
Northam has a strong relationship with Myamira’s family.
“I trained her dam (Simmysue),” Northam said. “She was my second ever winner as a trainer and gave me my first city winner,” 43-year-old Northam recalled. “I’ve trained most of the family.”
Myamira is bred and raced by Port Macquarie couple Jim and Gail Newton.
There is no doubt Myamira will appreciate a big drop in grade from recent starts.
“She only goes up 1kg (to 58kg) from racing in Group One company last start in a race when she sat five deep and had no luck. Put that all together and she gets into Sunday’s race very well,” Northam said.
