Sydney’s premier trainers Chris Waller and Gai Waterhouse face-off in Thursday’s Grafton Cup with each holding strong chances in the Listed $150,000 staying feature.
Waller has four runners – Permit, Secessio, Hoylonny and Mulaqen – the quartet filling the first four placings in the recent Listed Winter Cup.
Despite drawing the widest gate of the four and starting from the outside gate, Mulaqen ($5.00) is the shortest priced of Waller’s runners in advance of Permit ($9.00) who has also drawn poorly in the second to widest gate.
Secessio and Hoylonny – who ran the quinella in the Winter Cup and who have drawn more favourable for Thursday, are $10 and $13 respectively.
Waterhouse’s two runners are promising staying Queenstown and tough Travolta.
Queenstown shares favouritism with Mulaqen at $5.00 whilst Travolta represents good each-way value at $15.00.
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1. MR O’CEIRIN – B Shinn (17) 59kgs
After running second to Streama and Moriarty in the G2 Hollindale (1800m) and G2 Eagle Farm Cup (2200m) respectively earlier this campaign, he started the warm favourite (2/1) Saturday week’s Caloundra Cup.
He was scrubbed out of the inside gate and over-raced in the lead in the first half of the race which, combined with a lost plate, left him under pressure a long way out from home.
He is obviously a much better horse than last start but the wide draw and big weight will make this tough.
2. TRAVOLTA – T Bell (13) 59kgs
He’ll tackle this race second up from a twelve week spell with his first up run resulting in a seventh (5.2 lengths) behind Kingdoms in the Listed Centenary Mile (1600m).
Sat on the speed with 60kgs last start and battled away fairly in the straight. He won the ATC Cup second up off a similar break last year and his record this distance range is solid.
He is capable of a bold showing at double figure odds.
3. PERMIT – (18) 58kgs
He is just finding himself a length or two off the pace in Listed staying races in Sydney over the past few months.
The 7yo rolled along in second spot in the Listed Winter Cup (2400m) at his most recent start a fortnight ago before holding his position from the turn and finishing fourth (1.2 lengths) behind stable-mate Secessio.
Hard to see him winning this off that run, especially when he’ll jump from the second to widest gate.
4. BRAVE ALI – T Harrison (4) 56.5kgs
Flying this prep and took at the Ipswich Cup (2150m) two starts with a tough on-pace effort.
Tony Gollan’s galloper than started a leading chance in the Caloundra Cup but was unexpectedly taken on up front in the early stages by Mr O’Ceirin.
He fought off that challenge but was ran over by Brayroan in the last 100m, finishing second (2 ¾ lengths).
Will push forward and give plenty of cheek again.
5. SECESSIO – T Angland (9) 56.5kgs
He bounced back after a poor effort over two miles on a heavy track at Randwick, to arrive right on the line in the Listed Winter Cup last start.
That was his fourth win from twenty-three Australian starts – only one of them by more than a head.
He’ll be given his chance by Angland but comes up 2kgs on last start and place chance would be best.
6. HOYLONNY – J Collett (5) 56kgs
Like he did last preparation, really hit his straps at his third run back last fortnight, running second to Secessio in the Listed Winter Cup (2400m).
He went to the lead mid-race and fought on tenaciously in the straight, only being grabbed right on the line.
Held his form when found it last prep, running places in two Listed races and should get every chance from gate 5.
7. IRONSTEIN – P Hammersley (2) 54.5kgs
Although not having won for two and a half years, many though the rising 9yo would break the drought in the Caloundra Cup at his last start after him finishing a promising fourth in the Ipswich Cup.
He lobbed into a beautifully trailing position in the Caloundra Cup but was unable to capitalise on his position and finished a disappointing fifth (9.3 lengths) behind Brayroan.
Will get a lovely run again here from gate two but it has simply been too long between drinks.
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8. PRETTY PINS – R Wiggins (12)
Finished fourth in Floria’s record breaking Brisbane Cup before enjoying a lovely run and coming home along the fence to finish third (1.2 lengths) to The Inventor in the G3 Tatt’s Cup (2200m).
Going well but had her chance last start and needed to be winning that to be winning here.
9. QUEENSTOWN – T Clark (7) 54kgs
4yo Stratum mare who ran third (0.9 lengths) to Tromso first up off a twenty-three week spell in an Open (1400m) race before heading to Queensland and finishing fifth (2.6 lengths) to Kingdoms in the Listed Centenary Mile (1600m).
Just held her ground last start from the turn, suggesting that the step up to this trip third up will be ideal and she ran a head second in G2 last Spring over 2000m before running third (2.4 lengths) to Sertorius in the WFA Zipping Classic (2400m).
Will go forward, possible getting a lovely tag behind Brave Ali, and rates highly.
10. GREY ASSIGNMENT – (10) 54kgs
Improved sharply with the rise in distance to the 2150m of the Ipswich Cup, running third (1.2 lengths) behind Brave Ali and Noisy Ocean.
That was only his second run behind a mile this prep and it was a tough one, he’ll be better for it.
In comparison to Brave Ali’s $8.00, whom he meets 2.kgs better, the $21 on offer about Grey Assignment looks generous.
11. MULAQUEN – B Avdulla (19) 54kgs
Last start, his fourth for this prep, the 6yo started the 5/2 favourite for the Listed Winter Cup (2400m).
He found limited room in the straight before closing well, falling only a neck short behind stable-mates Secessio and Hoylonny.
With better luck in running, he’d be heading into this race as a last start winner unfortunately though; luck has deserted him again with him having to jump from the widest gate.
12. WAZN – P King (1) 54kgs
Last year’s Wyong Gold Cup (2100m) winner who has really struggled to find form this preparation.
He battled away to run fourth (9.8 lengths) in the 3200m race in Sydney before lining up over the same trip last Saturday in the Queensland Cup but finishing almost twenty-five lengths from the winner Iggi Pop.
Will start a big price and deservedly so.
13. NOISY OCEAN – J Byrne (8) 54kgs
Failed to run down Brave Ali by a length when second in the Ipswich Cup (2150m) before dropping back to seven furlongs a fortnight later, and winning a BM 85 on the Gold Coast.
Back up to staying trip where his past two efforts, the other being a second to promising stayer Hi Son, read well enough to give him consideration as a place chance.
14. GARUD – G Boss (11) 54kgs
We keep waiting for this Mike Moroney galloper to pop up in a race like this but he continues to come up short.
He started the 11/2 favourite in the Ipswich Cup (2150m) and after getting shuffled back on in the field heading into the turn, finishing well to run fifth (1.5 lengths) behind Brave Ali.
Dropped back to near last from a wide gate in his next and most recent run, the G3 Tatt’s Cup (2200m) and ran on without threatening the winner The Inventor – who had dictated from the lead.
Had had plenty of chance – give him one more?
15. HIGH KIN – (14) 54kgs
Ran a close second in last year’s Ipswich Cup but in seven subsequent runs, hasn’t given the indication that he is back to that kind of form.
After running eighth (4.3 lengths) in the Ipswich Cup (2150m) and made steady ground home from the turn to finishing fourth (8.3 lengths) in the Caloundra Cup (2400m).
He has a lot of improvement to make on recent runs.
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16. MULLET MAN – G Lynch (16) 54kgs
Won his sixth race at his most recent start when taking out the Grafton Cup Prelude (2210m) by ¾ lengths.
He drew well, sat on the speed and just had enough to hold off the challengers.
Meets a much stronger field here, has drawn poorly and likely to struggle.
17. PHRASES – M Paget (15) 54kgs
Tough and well travelled galloper who will line up for his fourteenth start since March, the most recent of which was last week’s Grafton Cup Prelude.
He led the field but was under pressure in the straight carrying 58.5kgs and battled on for fourth (2.9 lengths).
Drops in weight but meets a stronger field here and is drawn poorly.
18. ONGING VENTURE – (6) 54kgs
A lightly raced 5yo gelding who two starts back, won his sixth race from only his nineteenth start when successful in Murwillumbah Open.
His most recent start saw him close well from the back of the field in a Class 6 at Eagle Farm last Saturday, running third (1.6 lengths) behind the consistent Southerly.
Going well in easier races but aiming too high here.
19. SAMSILI – (3) 54kgs
He’ll start a very big price given his three career wins have been a Maiden, Class 1 and Class 2 at Seymour, Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie respectively.
RACE OVERVIEW
The best of Waller’s four hopes appears to be Hoylonny who showed he was ready with his effort in the Winter Cup. He, unlike his stable-mates, has drawn very well and should be positioned to advantage throughout by Collett who is riding in good form.
Waterhouse’s pair of Travolta and Queenstown will also take up forward positions and both will appreciate stepping up to this trip.
Travolta is no stranger to the big weights and has proven a hard horse to get past in the past.
Queenstown is a promising stayer who rounded out her previous campaign with a strong effort in a 2400m WFA race; a similar effort will see her right in the mix.
Host of them for a place chance including Garud, Mulaqen and Brave Ali.
TIPS:
HOYLONNY
TRAVOLTA
QUEENSTOWN
BRAVE ALI
