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By Ray Hickson

A start in the Ramornie Handicap is the target, stamping himself a contender for The Kosciuszko is the dream for trainer Brett Dodson when Parksville returns at Grafton on Sunday.

Trainer Brett Dodson (Pic: Bradley Photos)

Dodson is chasing an exemption into Grafton’s feature sprint on July 13 via the $29,000 John Carlton Cup (1190m) and he’s confident the four-year-old now has the maturity to handle bigger challenges.

Parksville was a winner over Sunday’s course back in January and was beaten under a length when third in the Northern Rivers Country Championships, also at Grafton, and he’s always been a horse Dodson had an opinion of.

“He’s come back a bit stronger, with a little break it really did him well,’’ he said.

“He ran a couple of nice races last time so hopefully he can get back on the right foot straight away.

“It’s a good race for him, it’s a good place to start, he’s run well at Grafton. It won’t be a hard track and a little bit of rain around will suit him too.

“If he can win he’ll get into the Ramornie, if he doesn’t there’s a Class 6 Plate on the same day. It’d be nice to get a shot at the Ramornie though.”

The gelding warmed up for his return with a trial win on his home track at Coffs Harbour on June 17.

With the $5 tickets now on sale for the $1.3 million The Kosciuszko draw, to be conducted on September 9, Dodson said if Parksville can win on Sunday and be competitive in the $200,000 Ramornie Handicap (1200m) it’d make a case for him to be considered as a Koscisuzko hope.

The Kosciuszko is run on TAB Everest Day, October 15, at Royal Randwick.

“We were looking at it last year but things didn’t go to plan with him so let’s hope everything stays on track,’’ he said.

“It’d be nice to see him come out and race well again and get into the Ramornie field which is a good benchmark for country horses.

“If he can run well in something like that then you’d consider (The Kosciuszko). If not we can pick our races carefully and see what progression he can make.”

The John Carlton could see the long awaited turn of smart sprinter Burning Crown but trainer Sue Grills said she would be reluctant to kick him off on a heavy track.

Burning Crown hasn’t raced since October 2020 due to injury but showed he’s in fine fettle with two runaway trial wins in June.

“It’s different under race conditions but he has trialled nicely, Ash (Morgan) says he feels good, and I’m happy with him,’’ Grills said.

“He seems really well again, he’s got his confidence back. But it’s a big ask with 61.5kg and barrier 12.”

Parksville wins a trial at Coffs Harboue on June 17

Meanwhile, Brett Dodson has eyes on the $80,000 Grafton Guineas (1600m) on Ramornie Day with promising three-year-old Kapsali on the back of a solid trial against stablemate Parksville.

Kapsali contests the Westlawn Wealth Advice Guineas Prelude (1420m) and Dodson hopes he can replicate a successful formula from when he started his previous campaign.

“He was showing ability but was getting run off his feet in those shorter races so last time in we started at 1400m first-up and he duly won and then won again,’’ he said.

“I’ve done the same this time. He’s another that’s really matured, not just physically but in the head. It’s a good race for him against his own age, and if he can win we’ll get in the Guineas.”

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday's Grafton meeting