Lismore Cup Day is usually a day frequented by plenty of Grafton locals with local businessman Tony Patricks organising a busload each and every year. With Covid 19 on us however 2021 saw the team as a late scratching.
So it was up the Grafton trainers to fly the flag high on the other side of the fence.
First to celebrate was Dwayne Schmidt when the consistent More Than Buttons broke through for an overdue win in the Maiden 1210m.
Schmidt had entered the mare for two races at the meeting but after doing the form came up with the 1200m event as the best ploy.
Aided by a near perfect ride from the inform Brooke Stower More Than Buttons was best to begin before Stower took the drag to be sitting pretty third the fence. Stower then worked into the clear below the 300m and it was almost race over with More Than Buttons racing away to win with something in reserve.
The win by More Than Buttons was bad luck for Matthew Bennett who had been riding the mare but was committed to the Kacy Fogden stable for the day.
Bennett however had his own reason to celebrate later in the day when the Jason Reilly prepared Franklin Corners scored an impressive win in the BM 58 1310m.
It is fair to say Franklin Corners had raced without luck at his most recent start at Grafton but Bennett gave the gelding the run of the race on fourth before dashing to the lead at the 200m to race away and win well.
Franklin Corners has now won four races since joining team Reilly as a Maiden just over a year ago.
Pics by Trackside Photography 0414 321 650
More Than Buttons and Franklin Corners fly the Grafton flag.
