Murray Bridge Racing Tips 6 May — can the maidens make you money?
Grafton Racing Tips 6 May — is Dunn the meeting key?
M J Dunn has a habit of making Grafton feel like home, and this little three-race card sets up for him again. He is not just “good here” in the vague way every local yard claims. He’s got proper volume at the track: 32 runners for 12 wins and 23 placings, so you can actually trust the pattern. And today he turns up with two live chances, including a filly in the maiden that looks ready to stop finding one better.
That’s the lens I’m looking through for these Grafton racing tips: a couple of races with thin exposed form where stable intent, map and course familiarity matter more than shiny last-start margins. It’s turf, and with no going note provided on the sheet, you treat it as standard country conditions and bet accordingly: keep stakes sensible, avoid getting married to one-dimensional speed, and lean into runners with repeatable profiles.
Grafton — the setup
Course stats are a mix of solid and noisy today. Most horses have only one or two prior runs at Grafton, so I’m not dressing up single-start records as some grand truth. Where the numbers do matter is the jockeys and one yard in particular.
Ladbrokes Review [Updated March 2026] | Ladbrokes.com.au Pros & Cons
- Info Hub
- Mates Mode
Limited course form across today’s fields — most runners have one or two starts here. The one exception worth leaning on is the Dunn yard’s long-run strike at the track, plus a couple of riders who ride Grafton often enough for their figures to mean something.
| Jockey | Runs | Wins | Places | Win% | Place% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Damien Boche | 16 | 3 | 9 | 18.75 | 56.25 |
| Jett Newman | 29 | 5 | 14 | 17.24 | 48.28 |
| L P Rolls | 32 | 4 | 12 | 12.50 | 37.50 |
| D Peisley | 30 | 3 | 8 | 10.00 | 26.67 |
| G Spokes | 36 | 2 | 13 | 5.56 | 36.11 |
| Trainer | Runs | Wins | Places | Win% | Place% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M J Dunn | 32 | 12 | 23 | 37.50 | 71.88 |
| S B Lee | 24 | 4 | 12 | 16.67 | 50.00 |
| Sally Taylor | 14 | 0 | 4 | 0.00 | 28.57 |
Race-by-race
Race 1: Team Aidan Mothers Day Markets 10 May Hcp — 12:25, 1110m
Without Surrender is the one I want to be with, and the reasoning is pretty clean for a 2YO handicap: he’s already shown he can handle the track, he gets a soft enough gate, and the set weights put him right in the fight without needing to find a stack of improvement.
He placed on his only start at Grafton, and in these early-season juvenile races that matters because plenty of them turn up still learning how to corner, how to cop kickback, and how to quicken off a bend. Barrier 6 gives Violet Soulsby options to stay out of trouble, and if they roll at a decent clip up front, he looks the sort that can sit just off it and finish his work.
The danger is Ever So Ready. The form line reads like a colt who can win again if he gets things his own way. He’s got the top weight (132.2) and has to make gate 8 work, but L P Rolls rides this track well enough to offset some of that. If Rolls pushes forward and lands outside the leader without burning, the race can turn into a short dash from the 400m and the backmarkers will be chasing shadows.
I’ll throw in a light mention for Le Starcell as the improver. Third at the track on the only try here, and that’s often the profile that steps up when others plateau. The unknown is the jockey booking (not listed), so you price in a bit of risk.
Staking: Win bet Without Surrender. Small saver quinella with Ever So Ready if you like protection against the map.
Race 2: Kensei Club Community Day 5 July Mdn Plate — 13:00, 1881m
Here’s the puzzle: how many of these actually want 1881m, and how many are just hoping it falls apart late. I’m siding with the one who has been knocking on the door and now gets a map that should let her control her own destiny: Foxy Artist.
She’s been consistently around the money (34-33), draws barrier 2, and that gate is gold over this sort of trip in a country maiden because you can hold a spot without spending petrol. Add the stable angle: M J Dunn at Grafton is as bankable as we get on this card, and he doesn’t need everything to go right to have you in the race late. Foxy Artist has also placed in both course visits. That’s only two runs, so I’m not calling her a track specialist, but it’s still a strong sign she handles the place.
The main threat is Burning Ambition. He’s been doing enough to suggest a maiden win is coming (7-8228) and he drew gate 4 which should let him land in the first half without getting keen. He placed on his only Grafton start too, and at this trip, that can be the difference between sticking on and folding at the 150m.
The knock on a couple of others is their Grafton history. Virginia Breezes has been here twice and hasn’t hit the placings, and Washik has had three course runs without featuring and tends to find trouble late. You can win these with that sort of profile, but you need the race to go very right.
Staking: Win bet Foxy Artist. If the market pushes her too short, I’d rather reduce stake than get cute with exotics in a race full of “maybe” stayers.
18+ T&C’s Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C’s Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C’s Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
Race 3: Grafton Toyota South Grafton Cup Day 12 July Country Boosted Mdn Plate — 13:35, 1219m
I’m starting with the contender this time because the race reads like a classic “repeat run wins” setup. Immortal Storm has been living in second place (3222-) and that level of consistency in maiden grade usually breaks through when the map doesn’t ask the horse to do something new.
D Peisley stays aboard and while his Grafton strike rate isn’t elite, he’s ridden here plenty (30 rides) and he understands where the race is won and lost, especially in sprints where the corner matters. Barrier 8 is the obstacle, but if Peisley can slide across without being trapped deep, Immortal Storm’s profile says he’ll be there when they fan. The weights are straightforward at 130.0, so there’s no sneaky handicap sting in the tail.
The danger is Sword Of Legacy from gate 1. He ran second last start (2486-2), and Jett Newman is a genuine Grafton asset: 29 rides for five wins and he hits the frame nearly half the time. From the inside, Newman can either hold the lead if it’s there, or take the sit if someone insists on crossing. Either way, he saves ground, and that’s what wins these 1200m maidens more often than people admit.
Yesspecially is the x-factor. Won last start, draws 4, and Paul Snowden has a solid enough record at this track. If that last win came with any substance, they might simply be better than maiden grade. The only reason I’m not planting the flag is we’re betting on one run of evidence.
Staking: Win bet Immortal Storm. Saver exacta with Sword Of Legacy on top if you’re worried Immortal Storm gets caught wide and the rails run becomes decisive.
The plays
NAP: Foxy Artist (Race 2, 13:00). Dunn at Grafton is a real edge because it’s built off 32 runners, not a handful. Foxy Artist draws to get every chance and her form says she turns up.
Value: Without Surrender (Race 1, 12:25). Two-year-old handicaps can be messy, but a runner that has already placed at the venue and gets a forgiving gate deserves respect if the market drifts.
Banker for multis: Immortal Storm (Race 3, 13:35) to run top two. The string of seconds reads like a horse that keeps putting himself in the finish, and that’s what you want in small-field maidens.
Each-way angle: If you’re playing place-only, Sword Of Legacy brings the safest map on the card from gate 1 with Newman, who rides Grafton well enough for his numbers to count.
Course angle to keep: When Dunn sends one here with a soft draw, you treat it seriously until proven otherwise. If he keeps rolling through with this kind of strike rate, he’s the Grafton anchor every time the meeting looks thin.
FAQ
What time does racing start at Grafton today?
Grafton kicks off at 12:25 with the Team Aidan Mothers Day Markets 10 May Hcp over 1110m.
Who are the top trainers and jockeys at Grafton?
On the trainer side, M J Dunn is the standout: 32 runners at the track for 12 wins and 23 placings. Among today’s riders with meaningful volume, Damien Boche has 16 rides here for 3 wins and 9 placings, while Jett Newman has 29 rides for 5 wins and 14 placings.
What are the best bets at Grafton today?
My best bet is Foxy Artist in Race 2 (13:00, 1881m). She draws gate 2, her recent form is solid (34-33), and she runs for the stable that consistently converts chances at this track. Next best is Immortal Storm in Race 3 off a run of seconds (3222-).
Where can I find the best odds for Grafton races?
Prices move quickly on small country meetings. The practical play is to check a few books close to jump time and take the best number. This page is built as Grafton racing tips and selections, then you shop the quote around your preferred bookmaker for the best available Grafton odds.
Which runners have previous Grafton placings on today’s card?
From the race list and course stats: Foxy Artist has placed in both Grafton runs, Burning Ambition placed on his only start here, and in Race 1 both Without Surrender and Le Starcell have a single course placing each.
Responsible gambling
Support & resources: If gambling is causing harm, call Gambling Help on 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
18+ only. Please gamble responsibly.
Affiliate disclosure: RacingBase may receive a commission if you sign up or place a bet via affiliated links. This does not affect our tips or editorial decisions.
