Emma Pritchard

A capacity field of 16 starters will line up in the 2021 Grafton District Services Club Ramornie Handicap this afternoon.

Gold Coast gelding Usmanov from the Toby and Trent Edmonds stable will carry the topweight of 59kg and brings strong Queensland form into the feature event.

After finishing fifth behind quality sprinters Away Game and Exhilarates in the Group 3 Eureka Stud W.J. Healy Stakes over 1200m at Eagle Farm last month, punters are expecting a bold showing from the son of Choisir.

Toby and Trent Edmonds are also pinning their hopes of winning the race on Peppi La Few.

Six-year-old gelding Southern Lad will be looking to improve on his top five finish in last years Ramornie Handicap for Randwick trainer John O’Shea.

Jumping from barrier 4, Southern Lad will carry 55kg and with astute jockey Christian Reith in the saddle, he will prove hard to beat.

Talented mare Outback Barbie, who ran a slashing third behind recently retired champion Sunlight in the 2018 Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast, is the best of Tony Gollan’s two runners in the event, while previous Ramornie winning trainers Peter and Paul Snowden will be looking to add another feature at Grafton to their trophy cabinet with Poetic Charmer.

Lightly raced three-year-old Vancouver colt Ice In Vancouver will join an elite group of horses if he is able to win the state’s premier country sprinting event at start number six.

Trained in Tamworth by Cody Morgan, the gelding is currently in his second preparation and is tipped to bounce back after a disappointing run at Randwick on June 12.

Gallant grey gelding Exclusive comes into the race with good form for Casino trainer Stephen Bennett.

Following his close second in the traditional lead up race to the Ramornie Handicap, the John Carlton Cup on June 27, Exclusive is another galloper having their second run in the Ramornie Handicap in 2021.

The field for the 2021 Grafton District Services Club Ramornie Handicap is scheduled to jump at 3:59pm.