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By Graeme White

Unfinished business is partly behind Exclusive’s attempt to win the prestigious Grafton Ramornie, but first stop is the John Carlton Cup (1190m) on Sunday.

Exclusive took out the John Carlton Cup last year earning a spot in the Ramornie where he finished last after drawing a wide alley.

Exclusive (Mitchell Bell) wins at Kembla when trained in Sydney. Image by Bradley Photographers

The five-year-old has drawn the inside gate for jockey Kirk Matheson on Sunday and is looming as a major threat to favoured runners, Invincore and Zac Attack.

Casino trainer Stephen Bennett believes Exclusive is primed to run well with his program designed around gaining a start in the $200,000 Ramornie (1200m) on July 7.

The country feature race is a major drawcard for country trainers with Bennett ensuring Exclusive, one of four horses he has in his stable, is right on the mark.

The winner of five of his 10 starts at Grafton has a touch of class and will need to be everything bit as his record suggests under 61kg.

Exclusive has raced only twice since September with substantial gaps between race starts with recent runs in Brisbane with similar weights.

Prior to that, Exclusive won the Murwillumbah Cup and has been highly competitive in every race he has contested at this level.

“His work has been good and he worked as well as he ever has on Tuesday morning,” Bennett said. “He is a lot more relaxed and a bit older now.

“Last year he needed to win the John Carlton to gain a start in the Ramornie and he may have to do the same again on Sunday.

“As a country trainer, you like to have a crack at these type of races so I’m hoping he can run better than last year.”

All things being equal, Exclusive may gain a start in the Ramornie even if he doesn’t win on Sunday, but just to make sure Bennett has the five-year-old as well prepared as he can be.

The butcher, who only trains a small team but has more horses in his care at present than normal, is the third trainer of Exclusive after Peter Snowden and Mark Newnham.

Exclusive won a $40,000 Class 1 race at the 2019 Grafton carnival at his third start for Bennett and his fellow owners.

“We are country people who like to have a horse in these races if they are good enough. Last year was the first time I have had a starter in the Ramornie and he was beaten about seven lengths after drawing wide,” Bennett said.

“He has been a very good horse to us since we bought him for $13,000. He originally costs something like $330,000 as a yearling then was sold again for about $70,000 or $80,000.

“We did have a sizeable offer to sell him to Singapore, but we are in it for the fun and he has given us a lot of enjoyment.” The 65-year-old said the present soft 6 track rating was suitable for Exclusive who doesn’t like it too wet.

Meanwhile, with five wins from nine starts to her name, Purrfect Deal is set to figure in the Westlawn Finance Grafton Cup Prelude (2230m). The mare appeals as a stand out along with recent winners Polemic, Flying Mojo and Oakfield Cherokee.

Purrfect Deal will race without blinkers and will have to carry five kilograms more than her nearest rival in the weights with 62kg. She looks up to the task after a long list of wins on Brisbane metropolitan tracks.

Veteran Polemic won by more than three lengths at his latest start at Ballina, while Flying Mojo has won against easier grade this preparation at Taree and Grafton. The winner of the prelude will be exempt from the ballot for the $200,000 Grafton Cup (2350m) on July 8.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Grafton here