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Big Weekend Adds To Record Season

20 August 2018

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It was a great weekend for Darrel Graham.

But overall, it’s been a great year for his stable.

The Fernvale horseman landed winners at each of the three meeting staged in the South East; Albion Park on Friday afternoon followed by Kilcoy on Saturday afternoon before backing up at Albion Park later that night.

His winners came via Regal Rock, Franco Totem and Springbank Eden.

A mixture of pacers and a trotter.

Graham is a great supporter of grass track racing and provided plenty of support for the Kilcoy meeting with eight runners for the three events staged.

When Franco Totem scored, he led home a first four result for the stable with Ruffalo, Tact Ollie and Itz Pleasurable filling the placings behind him.

And it was the same again in the following race, My Mastercraftsman is prepared by Graham’s foreman Adam Sanderson, the talented performer defeated the Graham trained trio of Rory Mach, Mafuta Vautin and Drive The Dream.

A quasi result for the Fernvale stable.

“We had some luck and got some good results at Kilcoy, it’s always a great day and it’s something different for both horse and driver. It works really well in New Zealand and it’s a different spectacle compared to the traditional way of racing.” Graham said.

The victories across the weekend have added to what is the best season for the respected horseman, his tally now sits at 143.

Only Grant Dixon has prepared more winners in his home state while he is fourth in the national premiership race with Emma Stewart, Dixon and Kerryann Turner having prepared more winners.

While Graham has driven more than 2000 winners, his training results have been equally impressive.

Prior to the current term, his hauls have netted him figures of 107, 89, 125, 122 and 131.

His best season came during the 2012/13 season before easily eclipsing that mark this year.

With time ticking on the current season, can he break into the 150’s?

“We’re close now so we’ll give it a go, it would be a major effort to train over 150 winners and there are a lot of people that have played a significant role in that success. You can’t achieve figures like this on your own so I’d like to thank everyone for their help.

“Obviously my wife Linda and two daughters Brittany and Stephanie plus Adam (Sanderson) and Jacob (Wallace) have been the backstop; it’s really a team effort with the help of Fev and Dougie.

“And the owners have been great too, Dean (Shannon), Jodie (Scott) and Adam (Sofoulis) among many others. As we know, without owners we have no industry.”

And he capped his weekend by heading to the EKKA (Royal Queensland Show) with his family watching the trotting action on display.

Darrel Graham has trained 2505 winners throughout his career to date.


Chris Barsby | RQ Web News | August 20