Shelton galloper's great debut

Double Honour, ridden by Ben Looker, scores a win at Grafton.

Daily Examiner

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Grafton Cup 2009

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TALK about an impressive debut.

The John Shelton-trained Double Honour burst onto the racing scene scoring a highly impressive 3-1/2 length win in the Elders Grafton Maiden (1000m) at Grafton yesterday.

It wasn't only the manner of the three-year-old filly's win that impressed all and sundry, but the times were there to suggest she could be one right out of the box.

Double Honour led throughout and smashed the class record, stopping the clock at 57.56 seconds for the 1000m, covering the final 600m in a flying 33.46 seconds.

“She jumped straight into the bridle and don't worry, she will only improve,” the winning rider, apprentice Ben Looker, said.

“She's always shown us plenty, a lot of speed. She's pretty smart,” Shelton added.

Eased down on the line, Double Honour beat Issie Mac and Snapaduck, making it a Grafton trifecta. The runner-up is prepared by Vanessa McLennan and Snapaduck by Greg Kilner.

The win wasn't unexpected either, Double Honour backed from $4.40 into $3

Double Honour was purchased as a yearling for $4000 at the Magic Millions sales and is part-owned by fellow Grafton trainer Paul Richardson.

“Paul let me train her and offered me a share, but I said 'no, I'll give it to the missus (Kaye Sutton)',” Shelton said.

“Over a couple of beers, we formed a syndicate in about five minutes with a couple of other Grafton mates. It's lucky we were all there.”

Shelton said the filly was still growing.

“She went a bit shinny after trialling and hasn't finished growing yet,” he said.

“I'm pretty sure she'll only get better. She's a nice filly. We'll have a look and decide later where we go from here.”

Shelton secured a winning double and Looker a treble when they combined to win the final event on the card with Ceequal Star, which took out the Sundown Bakery Class One Handicap (1200m). Looker's other victory came on the Dennis Armstrong-trained Coles Bay in the Grafton Fast Photos Handicap (1200m).

It was all smiles in the Phil McLeod camp too when promising five-year-old Sam's Gift, named after part-owner Matt Dougherty's late son Sam, steamed home to win the Cansdell Signs Rating 72 Handicap (1406m).

Facing older, better performed horses, the lightly raced son of Beautiful Crown, ridden adroitly by Craig Franklin, came away to score by three-quarters of a length from Stormy Youth and Train Wreck.

Coincidentally, yesterday marked the fifth anniversary of Sam Dougherty's funeral. Sam's Gift was born just three weeks later.

“Craig rode him a treat,” McLeod said of Franklin's patient ride.

“Craig does what you tell him and he's put a lot of work into this horse. In my opinion he's a horse going places. It's all ahead of him.

“Like Sam (Dougherty), he's a little likeable fella and I'll tell you what he's got and that's a darn good motor.”

Owner Ron Skinner's patience was finally rewarded yesterday when the Bruce Swan-trained Bemeego won the OCI Stakes Maiden (1000m).

Swan also prepared runner-up Booka and Steve Fitzsimmons ensured another all local trifecta when Red Lightning grabbed third.