1 hour ago
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John Schell
July 11, 2026 — 5:00pm
Warwick Farm trainer Bjorn Baker is already building a team for the Big Dance at Randwick on the first Tuesday in November and he is hoping to add to the numbers at Grafton on Sunday.
Eligibility goes on the line for the $3 million event to be run on November 3 when the Grafton Toyota South Grafton Quality Cup (1610m) is contested this weekend.
Form galloper War Eternal, with Nick Heywood to ride, has been racing well in Brisbane over the winter carnival, and Baker is adamant he can maintain that form.
“He’s as honest as the days are long,” said Baker.
“He was placed in a Hawkesbury Cup and since then has won at Doomben and then two in a row at Eagle Farm, all three in Listed grade, before a last-start second at Eagle Farm.
“He’s drawn wide but is racing well enough to overcome that.”
Baker will also start the consistent Midnight Dynamite in the South Grafton Cup with Rory Hutchings in the saddle.
“He’s been in great form of late and had been in winning form before a last start third in the Winter Stakes,” Baker said.
“He also has a bad draw but can overcome it.”
Winona Costin will ride Baker’s other runner in the South Grafton Cup when she steers Hollywood Hero, again from a wide draw.
Hollywood Hero looked all over a winner at Rosehill when last produced only to be run down late by Emirate.
“He’s as honest as they come,” Baker said of Hollywood Hero.
“He burst through the other day and looked like he was going to win only to be run down.
“He can bounce back if he gets the right run.”
The Tom Charlton-trained import Mr Chaplin will also line up in the South Grafton Cup having won at his Australian debut at Randwick before a last start third at Rosehill in the same event that Hollywood Hero finished second in.
Top jockey Kerrin McEvoy is heading to Grafton to ride Mr Chaplin, with that galloper being his only ride at the meeting that leads into the Ramornie and Cup meetings next week.
Supplied by Racing NSW
