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By Ray Hickson

He’s still “big and goofy” but Vantorix will be out to impress Jenny Graham and earn a potential shot at stakes company in his return at Grafton on Sunday.

Trainer Jenny Graham (Pic: Trackside)

The two-year-old was Graham’s first runner and winner after a 2-1/2 year break from training when he beat older horses on debut at Taree back in November but he’ll face a different challenge against his own age with 59.5kg in the Davis Steel & Fabrication Handicap (1000m).

That weight is of no concern to Graham, who says she’s relishing being back in the game, but she’ll have the fingers crossed jockey Luke Rolls can negotiate a clear passage from the inside alley.

“I’m back in the groove now, I always thought he was a nice horse and it was probably a bit of pressure I put on myself at his first run,’’ she said.

“He’ll go places I feel. He is a big horse he should be able to carry it, his prep has been good so far and he pulled up well from the trial.

“It makes me a bit nervous (being in one) because I’d like a bit of room for him. I’m hoping he’ll be able to push his way off the fence, he’s a big striding horse and he needs the room.

“He peeled off the fence (at Taree) and got a nice run down the outside and I’m hoping this goes in the same direction.”

So far Vantorix doesn’t know anything else but winning, aside from his first official start he’s also won two trials but Graham tempers that by saying he’s still very much developing physically.

She says he has progressed with the break between his first preparation and his return but we may not see something like the best of him until next season.

However, if the gelding does make it two from two she’d be more than happy to test the water and chase a stakes race or two in the Brisbane winter.

“I would like to see a bit more weight on him but he’s still growing up and still lengthening and that’s going to be probably another prep away yet,’’ she said.

“How many runs he’ll get out of a prep I’m not sure because he has a lot of filling out to do.

“I’m hoping he will run well then he’ll go through to Brisbane. There are a couple of early races there we can have a bit of a tinker with, see if he steps up and if he’s ready for it.

“He has maturing to do and that might hold him back a bit.”

Graham is banking on a gear change helping Kissavos rebound from what she thought was a below par second start for her when he heads to Taree on Tuesday.

The three-year-old was formerly trained by Ron Quinton and was narrowly beaten in his first run for the new stable prior to being a safely held third at Grafton on April 7.

Advice from jockey Andrew Mallyon prompted the gear change and she’s hoping it has the desired effect in the Sky International Handicap (1007m).

“I thought he’d nearly win at Grafton, I thought he was a bit disappointing,’’ she said.

“We’re trying the tongue tie on him, Andrew suggested he was holding his breath and didn’t let a breath out until the last 100m when the race was over.

“So we’ll try that on him and see if that makes a difference.”

Vantorix wins a Taree trial on April 9

Meanwhile, Graham’s other two-year-old winner Royal Exile is back in the stable after his creditable effort to finish midfield in the $2m Inglis Millennium in February.

She said if he comes along as hoped she will look for a race at the Grafton July carnival for him.

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