Grafton Cup (LR)
The Tony Pike-trained gelding Sacred Day followed his win in a benchmark 65 (2240m) at Doomben on June 19 when having his third Australian start with a narrow but good win here, his fourth success - and first at stakes level - in 16 starts. He settled in seventh place on the rails from his inside barrier (1). He improved behind runners nearing the home turn, got through on the inner to hit the front at the 200m and then fought back to win well. Sopressa had a good trip in third place on the rails. She got a split to challenge on straightening and then kept battling well for (long-neck) second. Vaucluse Bay was fourth early on before racing in sixth place, one off the rails. He improved well (deep) from the 600m to challenge at the home turn. He then kept battling well for a close-up third. The favourite Igraine raced in eighth place, one off the rails, before making a wide move from the 600m. She went to fourth at the 200m and then kept battling on under 59kg to retain that position at the post, beaten 1.8 lengths.
Previous Winners
| Date | Horse | Jockey | WT | Trainer | BP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
FIRST CRUSH
(AUS)
6G HUSSON (ARG) - LOVING NEW (BRZ) CHOCTAW RIDGE (USA) |
MARK DU PLESSIS | 55.5 | CHRIS MUNCE | 7 |
|
|
SUPPLY AND DEMAND
(AUS)
4G SEBRING (AUS) - DEMANDING (AUS) OCTAGONAL (NZ) |
J PARR | 58.5 | G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT | 13 |
|
|
REDNAV
(AUS)
5G HENRYTHENAVIGATOR (USA) - REDOUTESKI (AUS) REDOUTE'S CHOICE (AUS) |
P GRAHAM | 54.0 | SALLY TAYLOR | 12 |
|
|
BONFIRE
(GB)
6G MANDURO (GER) - NIGHT FROLIC (GB) NIGHT SHIFT (USA) |
B SHINN | 59.0 | MS G WATERHOUSE | 12 |
|
|
QUEENSTOWN
(AUS)
4M STRATUM (AUS) - REGAL HEIGHTS (NZ) ZABEEL (NZ) |
TIM CLARK | 54.0 | MS G WATERHOUSE | 6 |
|
|
MR O'CEIRIN
(NZ)
5G POSTPONED (USA) - CADELL (NZ) YACHTIE (AUS) |
B SHINN | 56.0 | CIARON MAHER | 16 |
|
|
SHAMARDASHING
(AUS)
5G SHAMARDAL (USA) - BEAUX ART (AUS) NOMROOD (USA) |
J LLOYD | 57.5 | JOHN P THOMPSON | 8 |
|
|
WARRIOR WITHIN
(AUS)
5G KING CUGAT (USA) - AVA BOLLI (NZ) VOLKSRAAD (GB) |
PAUL HAMMERSLEY | 53.0 | BRUCE W HILL | 9 |
|
|
TWIN WING
(NZ)
7G ISTIDAAD (USA) - TIGER MOTH (NZ) SKY CHASE (NZ) |
J FORD | 57.5 | G H WALTER | 8 |
|
|
CASTLE HEIGHTS
(NZ)
4G GOLAN (IRE) - CAERNARFON (NZ) VOLKSRAAD (GB) |
S KATSIDIS | 53.0 | D LOGAN | 4 |
|
|
ART SUCCESS
(NZ)
6G PENTIRE (GB) - ZABELETTE (NZ) ZAFONIC (USA) |
J LLOYD | 58.0 | JOHN COLLINS | 2 |
|
|
ASHRAF
(AUS)
4G DANEHILL (USA) - DIS LA (USA) DIESIS (GB) |
DALE SPRIGGS | 53.0 | STUART PHEGAN | 4 |
|
|
ROCKING ON
(NZ)
5G ZABEEL (NZ) - LAMBERT MISS (NZ) DANZIG (USA) |
JAMES P INNES | 53.0 | MS G WATERHOUSE | 4 |
|
|
STORMHILL
(AUS)
3C DANEHILL (USA) - TORRENTIAL STORM (NZ) SIR TRISTR (AUS) |
C MUNCE | 52.0 | T R MARTIN | 7 |
|
|
PACIFIC DANCER
(NZ)
3G GROOM DANCER (USA) - PACIFIC GEM (NZ) KAAPSTAD (NZ) |
M RODD | 53.5 | SHAUN DWYER | 3 |
|
|
BELUS
(AUS)
5G BLETCHARM (AUS) - SWALK (AUS) GODSWALK (USA) |
M J ZAHRA | 54.0 | R W SMERDON | 9 |
|
|
MASTER POM
(NZ)
6G GARCIA (USA) - POMPOM (NZ) LORD CHEVAL (NZ) |
N CUMBERLAND | 53.0 | STEPHEN QUINTANO | 5 |
|
|
DESK TOP LOVER
(AUS)
5G BUREAUCRACY (NZ) - LOVE TO SPARE (AUS) DAYBREAK LOVER (AUS) |
MICHAEL CAHILL | 53.0 | BILL MITCHELL | 14 |
|
|
SIMIGAN
(NZ)
4G HONOR GRADES (USA) - KARAMEA LADY (NZ) LORD BALLINA (AUS) |
A ROBINSON | 52.5 | BRIAN SMITH | 5 |
