It has been over 500 days since the now Desleigh Forster-trained Someday was last seen racing but this afternoon the rising nine-year-old makes his much awaited return in the 2017 Ramornie Handicap at Grafton.
Brisbane sprinter Someday races for the first time in over 500 days in the 2017 Ramornie Handicap field during the Grafton Cup Carnival. Photo: Daniel Costello.
Brisbane-based Forster hasn’t shied away from a big challenge first-up with the son of Falvelon who hasn’t raced since a Doomben sprint back in February of 2016 and who debuts for his new trainer today.
Formerly raced by Tony Gollan and Kelso Wood, Someday takes on a top line-up of winter sprinters on Day 1 of the Grafton Cup Carnival in the meeting’s feature race – the $160,000 Listed Ramornie Handicap (1200m) – and gets the rails run from barrier one.
Jockey Ben Looker is booked for the ride and unsurprisingly, Someday is rated only a $51 roughie’s chance in the latest Ramornie Handicap odds at Ladbrokes.com.au.
The bookies may rate the galloper’s chances of success after so long away due to injury next to nothing, but Forster is hopeful of a nice showing from the former Glasshouse Handicap winner whose setback came when injuring a suspensory ligament last summer.
After a year in the paddock, Someday was in pre-training for several months before finally joining Forster at her Eagle Farm based stables and he’s been showing positive improvement.
“My farrier is friends with the owners and he suggested to them that they give me a go because I do a lot of beach work and that the horse might benefit from it,” Forster told Racenet on Tuesday.
“Although he’s had a long time off, he has a good grounding for Wednesday – I’ve given him a lot of long steady beach work and he’s had a couple of jumpouts.
“He’s rising nine but at home he gives us the impression he’s right on top of his game.”
Along with the favourable barrier Someday also gets into the Ramornie Handicap with just 54.5kg, which is the lightest he has carried since a Group 3 run at Doomben in December of 2013.
“He’s got such a high rating but this race was a nice starting point for him with no weight,” Forster said of Someday, who has a 94 handicap rating.
“He hasn’t carried a weight like this in a long time.
“I wouldn’t be taking him on a four-hour float trip unless I thought he was going to be competitive.
“Even if he could get back to half of his old form I would think he’s going to be competitive.”
The latest Ramornie Handicap odds have the widely-drawn Badajoz at $4.20 after his strong win at the Sunshine Coast last time out, followed by the 59.5kg top weight The Monstar ($5) who comes off a Civic Stakes second over more metres at Rosehill.
Check out the full Grafton Cup Carnival betting markets now and back today’s Ramornie Handicap winner at the right price through Ladbrokes.com.au.
