Sir Grace to target Rockhampton Cup

By Glenn Davis

The Rockhampton-based Warwick Satherley grew up around racing royalty in his native New Zealand but is now making his own mark as a dual licensee on the state’s central and northern provincial circuits.

Satherley accepted with progressive sprinter Sir Grace in the Open Handicap over 1560 metres at Mackay on Thursday but has a back-up nomination for Townsville on Saturday where he’ll start Saraqael in the QTIS 2YO Classic.

The New Zealand-born Satherley hopes Sir Grace can add another piece to the puzzle to tackle the $150,000 Rockhampton Cup over 1600 metres in July.

The progressive Sir Grace was the first horse Satherley saddled as a trainer when he finished fourth in a Rockhampton maiden in December, 2023.

The gelding also became Satherley’s first winner as a trainer after claiming his maiden in Rockhampton in March last year.

Fast forward to now and Sir Grace has now won seven of his 12 starts including his past three in succession.

A son of Turn Me Loose, Sir Grace showed he was on track for the Rockhampton Cup with a dominant all-the-way win in a 1560 metre Open Handicap at Mackay on April 14.

“We bought him for $11,000 at an Inglis online sale as he’s by Turn Me Loose who I knew from my time in New Zealand,” Satherley said.

“I liked his breed as he had the Sir Tristram and Zabeel bloodlines and is bred to get 3200 metres.”

Sir Grace has had his recent races spaced a month apart.

“There were no races around for him when I was trying to step him up to 1600 metres early on,” Satherley said.

“Then he had a couple of niggling problems when I was trying to get him into the Rocky, Mackay Amateurs and Emerald Cup.

“This race on Thursday fits in well for him before he runs in the Tatts Mile in Rocky then the Rocky Cup.”

Satherley once worked alongside champion Sydney trainer Chris Waller who started his star-studded career with former Kiwi trainer Patrick Busuttin, who is now based at Deagon on Brisbane’s northside.

“I was with Pat when Chris Waller worked for him,” Satherley said.

“We grew up in the same town over there and both our parents were farmers.

“Chris was working his way up with Paddy and eventually took over when Paddy went to train in Singapore.”

Satherley arrived in Rockhampton three years ago to initially begin a training career but instead returned to race riding after more than a decade in the wilderness.

Satherley, who prepares a team of three, is currently striking at 53.8% as a trainer with seven wins and five placings from 13 starters this season.

He is striking at 16.9% as a jockey with 42 wins from 249 starters this campaign.