By Mark Brassel
He may have only finished 11th at Tamworth last start but there’s more than meets the eye with Stakes-winner and Ramornie contender, Got Unders.
Trainer Jay Hopkins believes the real Got Unders will stand up and be counted in Wednesday’s $160,000 Listed-Grafton District Services Club Ramornie Handicap (1200m) at Grafton.
When in form, the rising nine-year-old is a class performer as evident by his Group 3 Cameron Handicap victory at Newcastle last spring, and his second placing behind the top-class performer Happy Clapper in the Newcastle Newmarket last autumn.
“He hasn’t raced since failing at Tamworth in April,” Hopkins said. “He didn’t pull up that well after the run so we put him in the paddock for a couple of weeks to freshen him up.
“He seems good now. He raced well in the Hall Mark first-up but seemed flat at Tamworth.”
Got Unders resumed from a five-month spell when a solid seventh to Burning Passion in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick prior to his Tamworth flop.
“He’s eight years old so he’ll probably never get another chance to run in a Ramornie,” Hopkins explained. “He’s an older horse now and sometimes feels his legs so I’ve put concussions plates on him for the first time in the Ramornie.
“James Innes Jnr will be riding him and I expect the horse to either lead or be on the pace as that seems to be where he’s happiest.”
Hopkins will also be represented at Grafton with Found Out who will contest the Class 2 Showcase Handicap (1600m).
Found Out – a three-year-old – has raced on 14 occasions for two wins and three placings, scoring at Geelong (1700m) three starts back.
“I’ve only had him for three weeks after buying him at a Melbourne sale. He seems a really nice type and the jockeys that have ridden him said he’s a lovely ride.
“The horse galloped nicely last week so he should run well. He’s owned by some newcomers to the stable so I’m hoping to have some luck with them.”
The last of Hopkins’s trio racing at Grafton is Survey’s Legacy, with the mare to start in the Fillies & Mares Benchmark 55 Showcase Handicap (1100m). The five-year-old has raced 20 times for just the one win and six placings.
“She’s been unlucky and should have won more races,” Hopkins said. “She hasn’t raced since February so she’s first-up, but her work has been excellent.
“She’ll race up near the front or in the lead and I’m expecting her to be pretty hard to beat.”
The other feature race on the day is the $50,000 Tursa Employment & Training Inglis Bonus Grafton Guineas (1600m) which carries a $50,000 if the winner is nominated to the Inglis Race Series.