Graphic a finalist in stayer of the year category

Matamata trainer Chad Ormsby is chuffed to see Graphic (NZ) (Volksraad) among the finalists for stayer of the year, though he knows the Gr.2 Wellington Cup winner is only an outside chance of winning the category.

Graphic joins Gr.1 The BMW winner Silent Achiever (O'Reilly), Gr.1 Auckland Cup winner Who Shot Thebarman (NZ) (Yamanin Vital) and Gr.3 Waikato Cup winner More Than Sacred (More Than Ready) in the stayer category of the annual New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Awards, which will this year be held at Hamilton's Claudelands Event Centre on August 14.

"He's up against some good ones but just to get there is quite an achievement. We're pretty stoked but he deserves it," said Ormsby, who trains in partnership with Melbourne-based Michael Moroney.

Ormsby reported that Graphic had progressed well in pre-training at owners Christopher and Susanne Grace's property and he was booked to spend two weeks with Manawatu trainer Tony Bambry to work on his water treadmill before returning to Ballymore Stables later this month.

"He's been doing walking and trotting on Mr Grace's farm and then he'll have two weeks on the water treadmill so by the time he gets back here, he'll have done a fair bit of groundwork," Ormsby said.

Graphic's 2014-15 season will be focused on winning major domestic staying races.

"Long-term we'd like to have him primed for the Auckland Cup. We know he's good enough," Ormsby said.

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing have announced the equine finalists for all but the jumper category, which will be announced after Saturday's Wellington Steeplechase meeting, with other finalists to be announced at the end of season on July 31. - NZ Racing Desk