Emma Pritchard

Astute Scone based trainer Lou Mary has always had plenty of positive superlatives to say about his stable star Proverbial.

And the five-year-old daughter of The Factor (USA) let her talent do the talking at Grafton on July 2 when she scored a determined win in Race 7, the Clocktower Hotel John Carlton Cup Quality over 1190m, and secured her place in next week’s prestigious Ramornie Handicap.

Jumping smartly from barrier 9, Proverbial settled midfield as local galloper Hidden Hail assumed the early lead, before kicking strongly inside the closing 200m to deny a gallant Andy who fought doggedly along the rails and Iring by half a length on the line.

Following an impressive win in the TAB Highway Handicap over 1100m at Rosehill Gardens early last month, Mary revealed he had been searching for another good race for Proverbial, and had the John Carlton Cup, and a possible Ramornie Handicap start, pencilled in for the mare.

And while he has only been training since October 2020, and has never journeyed to Grafton before, Mary could leave the 2023 XXXX July Racing Carnival with his name proudly etched in the record books as a Ramornie Handicap winning trainer.

Describing Proverbial as a promising mare, winning jockey Andrew Mallyon said she will be hard to beat in the feature sprint next week.

Proverbial has raced 24 times for five wins and eight minor placings.

Her victory in the John Carlton Cup on Sunday took her career earnings over $250000.