Girl Power Key To Seven Sinners' The Richmond Win

NORTHERN Rivers trainer Col Graham needed a "secret weapon" to help Seven Sinners' chances in Tuesday night's The Richmond at Casino.

David Brasch13 February 2024

NORTHERN Rivers trainer Col Graham needed a “secret weapon” to help Seven Sinners' chances in Tuesday night's The Richmond Final (620m) at Casino.

So, he called on 17-year-old Holly Taylor to handle the daughter of Fernando Bale and Inspired Hope and it was the perfect recipe for success.

“The bitch is very comfortable when she is led out by girls,” said Col. “She's only 24 kilos so there is no way she is going to be handled by some big brute of a man.”

It worked to perfection with Seven Sinners leading throughout to hold off Sanisha by three-quarters of a length in 35.76 with hot favourite Nangar Lucy a close-up third.

Seven Sinners toughs out a gritty victory in the inaugural The Richmond Picture: Lisa Vanderstok

“It is a recipe I've used with her before,” said Col of Holly handling the bitch for the inaugural running of The Richmond.

“Holly handled her when she won at Casino a little while ago, and Annabel Kitchener has handled her three times at Ipswich and she won each time.”

Seven Sinners is raced by the Cheese Eaters Syndicate headed by Col's nephew Tony McQueen.

“Yes, there are seven of them in the syndicate,” said Col.

“Tony is great mates with the Mackenzie Ross family in Queensland and bought this bitch at three months. She is a litter sister to Magistrate.”

Col Graham admits when he first put Seven Sinners into training he doubted she would run further than 400 metres.

“She started off over 288 metres and 300 metres and was leading, but I doubted then she would get much more distance,” he said.

“But, she has kept improving and improving.

“About five weeks ago she won at Ipswich over 520m and someone said to me then that she would get 600 metres.

The first three across the line in the feature middle distance event Picture: Lisa Vanderstok

“Her early pace won the final for her. It was her only chance to hold out Nangar Lucy early and that's what she did.”

Col is unsure what to do with Seven Sinners now.

“She's third grade at Albion Park on a Thursday night and that will be tough for her especially against dogs like Jay Is Jay and her brother Magistrate,” he said.

Col Graham's kennel stars King Of Aces and Loving Smile suffered injuries in the past couple of months and Seven Sinners' victory was a major “pick-me-up” for him.

The win took her record to 32 starts for 17 wins and seven placings for stakes of $89,000.