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By Mark Brassel

It’s been two decades since King Rex landed his biggest career victory, and two busloads of fans will be heading to Grafton on Wednesday to commemorate the milestone.

King Rex was part-owned by former Dubbo jeweller and bookmaker Peter Carolan and took out the time-honoured Ramornie Handicap back in 2005.

(L-R): Peter Carolan, his daughter Peta and part-owner Gary Kimmorley speak to jockey Len Beasley after King Rex had won at Rosehill. Image by Bradley Photographers

That day Carolan was so excited he bolted from his bookie stand for the enclosure to welcome the horse back but got straddled on the fence trying to jump over it.

“I wanted to celebrate with the trainer and jockey when I rushed from the bookies’ ring and tried to clamber over the fence,” Carolan recalled.

“I think it was Max Presnell [legendary journalist] who unhooked me and helped me over into the enclosure.”

Carolan said buses will be arriving at Wednesday’s Grafton meeting from nearby villages Iluka and Yamba.

“I have lots of friends from Iluka and Yamba as I’ve been fishing in those areas for 40 or 50 years.

“It will be fantastic to catch up with everyone – I reckon King Rex will be the main topic of discussion all day!”

King Rex, a $3500 bargain buy, was a fabulous sprinter and finished his career with 14 wins and 17 placings from 65 starts returning over $500,000 in prizemoney.

Trainer Stephen Hood prepared the horse for the Ramornie (ridden by Michael Cahill) and both he and his dad Mick were long-time mates of Carolan.

One of King Rex’s wins was at Rosehill and gave jockey Kathy O’Hara’s her first ever Sydney Metropolitan win on a Saturday: “And she beat Darren Beadman!” Carolan quipped.

Wednesday’s feature $200,000 Grafton District Services Club Ramornie Handicap (1200m) precedes Thursday’s $200,000 Westlawn Finance Grafton Cup (2350m).

King Rex (Len Beasley) scores at Rosehill in 2005. Image by Bradley Photographers

The 2025 episode of the Ramornie Handicap has attracted a maximum 20 horses (16 plus four emergencies) and contains five last start winners.

They are Compelling Truth (won at Eagle Farm-to be ridden by Bailey Wheeler), The Great Houdini (Canterbury Park), Sha of Gomer (Rockhampton-Rikki Jamieson), Staffa (Tamworth) and Lady Extreme (Alysha Collett) who has won her past two appearances at Rosehill Gardens.

On the day there will also be a $50,000 Super Maiden Showcase Plate (1700m) that offers a $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus Series cheque to the winner, should the galloper be an Inglis graduate from 2023 and beyond and paid up for the Inglis Race Series.

Wednesday’s program is a Racing NSW Showcase meeting boasting $495,000 in prizemoney with $550,000 on offer for Thursday’s Cup Day.

The Grafton Cup also contains a maximum 16 runners and includes Lord Mayors Cup (Rosehill) winner Touristic (Dylan Gibbons), Quietness (last start runner-up in the Tattersall’s Gold Crown at Eagle Farm-Andrew Adkins) and last start Stayers Cup (Rosehill) winner Bacio Del Mist (Alysha Collett).

The Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott stable will be represented by Bear on the Loose (Angela Jones) who has finished second in four of his past five starts in high grade events.

Topweight Belvedere Boys will be partnered by Blake Shinn who won last year's Grafton Cup on Deny Knowledge.

UPCOMING NSW COUNTRY RACE MEETINGS
Monday: Scone
Tuesday: Warren
Wednesday: Grafton
Thursday: Grafton
Friday: Albury, Tamworth
Saturday: Coonabarabran
Sunday: Grafton