The long winning drought of The Hamo came to an end at Grafton, delivering a much-improved performance after recent setbacks. The seven-year-old gelding, sired by Better Than Ready out of News Release and trained by P and W Hulbert, had been aiming to regain form following less successful runs in town.

The Hamo, who had been scratched from a recent event, had shown promising signs in a trial at Hawkesbury on July 27, where he secured a comfortable 14-length victory over 1250 meters on good ground. This effort was seen as a positive indicator ahead of his title defense at Grafton.

Prior to this, The Hamo had achieved noteworthy success with back-to-back wins in the Coffs Harbour Cups, bolstering expectations for his performances. Despite disappointing finishes in his most recent matches at Grafton, the trial win suggested a return to form.

Connections remained optimistic about the horse’s prospects, noting his consistent training work and ability to perform well on favorable track conditions. The Hamo’s victory at Grafton not only ended his winless streak but also reinstated him as a contender to watch in upcoming events.