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By Ray Hickson

Jockey Brock Ryan is keen to make his homecoming at Grafton on Sunday a successful one and take advantage of picking up the plumb ride on Wicklow in the feature $80,000 Grafton Toyota South Grafton Cup (1610m).

Jockey Brock Ryan

Ryan grew up in nearby Yamba and did a couple of years of high school in Grafton but he’ll be making his long awaited debut on the Grafton course.

“I was always going up for Paul Murray’s horses and I thought I’d see what else I could pick up,’’ Ryan said.

“I always wanted to ride at the carnival because I’m from up there, so all my family and mates will be there.”

Wicklow wasn’t Ryan’s original ride in the South Grafton Cup, he was booked for the Bjorn Baker-trained Night Of Power but when that horse was scratched he found his way on board the hot favourite.

Of course he hasn’t partnered the promising Chris Waller-trained four-year-old, $2.30 with TAB on Saturday, but will leave no stone unturned to get to know the horse in the lead up to the Big Dance Eligible race.

“I’ve been in a few races with him, I know his racing style,’’ he said.

“I’ll watch his replays and have a chat to Brenton (Avdulla) and even Hughie (Bowman).”

Bowman was in the saddle when the gelding scored an impressive last-to-first win at Rosehill over 1500m on June 18.

In Wicklow’s first Australian preparation he put together a string of wins up to 1800m and on all surfaces so Ryan says with 54kg and a favourable barrier it’s easy to see why he’s the popular pick.

“He’s lightly raced and on what he’s done so far it looks like he’s a pretty smart horse,’’ he said.

“I thought his last win was outstanding at Rosehill. He’s got all the credentials there to be favourite doesn’t he.

“He has a good barrier, a light weight, he loves the wet. Everything else ticks the boxes, it’s up to me.

“Hopefully everything works out on Sunday and we can get that ticket into the Big Dance.”

First and second in the South Grafton Cup become eligible for the $2 million Big Dance (1600m) run at Royal Randwick on November 1, and the winner does receive ballot preference.

Ryan will ride Prime Candidate for the Baker stable in Wednesday’s $200,000 Grafton District Services Club Ramornie Handicap (1200m) and he’ll partner Ipswich Cup winner Smart Meteor in the $200,000 Southside Pharmacy Grafton Cup (2350m) on Thursday.

Wicklow wins at Rosehill on June 18

Among his rides on Sunday, where Ryan is booked on four early favourites, he expects Viking Power to be a big improver second-up in the George’s Tree Services Handicap (1410m).

The Paul Murray-trained four-year-old resumed with a midfield finish, as favourite, at Moruya three weeks ago and drops 6kg on the 3.6 length defeat.

“I thought his first-up run at Moruya with a big weight was very good,’’ he said.

“He had no jump out or trial and had 61kg and the outside gate. I’ve been riding him work, he’s been ticking on nicely and I think he will run well.”

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday's Grafton meeting