A competitive field has assembled for this year’s running of the Grafton Cup with in-form Destiny’s Kiss ($4.50) slightly holding early favouritism over Caloundra Cup winning mare, Zennista ($5.00). With a further five runners at or under the 10/1 mark, it should make for a good betting race.
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1. VOILA ICI – G Colless (10)
After a strong effort in the G2 Eagle Farm Cup, when third behind Quintessential and Manighar (Moriarty fourth), the Peter Moody trained galloper was installed 7/2 fav for the Ipswich Cup. A combination though of big weight (60kgs) and a wide draw saw him finish a disappointing fifth. He produced a better effort at his next and most recent start when, on heavy ground he chased home Zennista in the Caloundra Cup after settling on the speed. Will roll forward again but will have to be taken on trust.
2. ZENNISTA – D Browne (7)
She has continued to improve at each of her four Australian starts since coming across from New Zealand in May, with her latest effort being a dominant win in the Caloundra Cup. From the inside draw she was afforded a lovely run last start and has drawn well enough here to obtain a similar run off the speed. She rises 2kgs on the Caloundra Cup win but is in good form and cannot be ignored.
3. FUIMICINO – D Dunn (7)
Won the McKell Cup (2400m) two starts back on a heavy track and had those conditions again last start in the Listed Winter Cup but after leading, was no match for Destiny’s Kiss late and ran second, 2 ¾ lengths in arrears. Meets that horse 2.5kgs better today however, would need a heavy track – has won four of his six races on heavy, to be considered a chance here.
4. DESTINY’S KISS – C Reith (17)
4yo gelding by Power of Destiny who continues to impress with each run this preparation. He comfortably won an Open Class race at Rosehill (2000m) before impressing with a 2 ¾ win in the Listed Winter Cup (2400m) at his most recent start. He was strong at the end of the Winter Cup and despite drawing wide here, is the deserved favourite.
5. MR. O’CEIRIN – B Shinn (19)
Victorian galloper who has had three stars back this prep, easily winning the second of these starts by 3 ½ lengths at Moonee Valley (2040m) but at his latest start, where he was sent out a 4/7 on favourite, the Ciaron Maher trained galloper finished a disappointing sixth of nine, beaten close to ten lengths. Was allocated 60kgs last start and does drop to 56kgs here however, the combination of that poor performance and the widest draw here, makes it hard to include him with any confidence.
6. REUBEN PERCIVAL – N Rawiller (12)
Gai Waterhouse trained galloper who ran an eye-catcher first up in Open company when finishing a luckless fifth behind Said Com over 1500m at Rosehill. He then jumped straight to the 2400m of the Winter Cup and after settling on the speed, faded rounding the turn and finished fifth, eight lengths behind Destiny’s Kiss. Rawiller was kind to him over the final stages in the Winter Cup and he’ll be fitter again for that run. Very competitive in good staying races over the spring and with 55.5kgs here, has to be seriously considered.
7. PEAL OF BELLS – Tim Clark (5)
Dominated his opposition two starts back, winning by almost seven lengths over the 3200m at Randwick before being considered the main danger to Destiny’s Kiss in the Winter Cup (2400m) The Gwenda Markwell trained galloper was gone a long way from home and in the end, finished over twenty lengths from the winner. Obviously not the run you want leading into a competitive race.
8. SHENZHOU STEEDS – E Wilkinson (15)
After a pleasing effort closing from the tail of the field to run a head second in the G3 Tatt’s Tiara two starts back, the Mike Moroney trained galloper looked spot on to defend his Caloundra Cup title and accordingly, was sent out a 9/4 favourite. Like the eventual winner, he had every chance in the run but could only manage fourth (beaten 5 ¼ lengths). On that effort and with a wide draw it is hard seeing him turning the tables here.
9. ANAGOLD – A Pattillo (11)
4yo mare by Anabaa who hadn’t shown much at five starts this preparation so it was a surprise to most when she won the Ipswich Cup two starts back by a head. She next stepped out in the Caloundra Cup but no made no impression after settling at the rear of the field and finished over ten lengths from Zennista. Ipswich Cup effort may be the highlight of her career.
10. DEVISED – J Kissick (6)
Went within a nose of winning the Wagga Gold Cup back in May and the son of Galileo has had two well spaced runs since, the latest being a fourth of seven behind Planet Purple in a BM 80 over 2600m at Rosehill. That was his first run in a month and wasn’t suited by the heavy conditions but may be aiming a bit too high here.
11. SAINT ENCOSTA – T Bell (9)
He ran second to stable-mate Shamardashing in this race last year but on recent form, likely to struggle to produce a similar result this time around. He made good ground late when 3.4 lengths behind Precedence in the G3 Premier’s Cup two starts before making little impression from the tail of the field as a 50/1 chance in the G2 Brisbane Cup. Will get a long way back and it’s hard to see him being able to run a few of these down.
12. RAEBURN – R Wiggins (1)
He raced well in some handy staying races before injury forced him off the scene for the best part of two years. He’s had four starts back and improving steadily with each effort, the most recent being a seventh (beaten 2.9 lengths) behind Riayla in the G3 Tatt’s Cup three weeks back. This race is harder again but still may have some improvement to come and gets a nice run from inside draw.
13. YULALONA – K McEvoy (14)
It’s been a year and a half now since this Darley representative saluted the judge and, going by his three runs in this preparation, a return to the winner’s stall may be some time off yet. He was well beaten by World Wide second up over a mile in a BM 90 before again finishing well back (beaten 9.2 lengths) by Destiny’s Kiss over 2000m in an Open Class race. Would require a significant form reversal.
14. ZAR ZAR BINKS – M Paget (18)
Lining up for his fifth start in the past month, there’ll be no question over this 3yo’s fitness but a big one over his ability to handle this class – particularly when starting from the second to widest gate. He has won three of his past five including his most recent two starts, the latest as 2/1 fav here last week however, this is a big jump in class and would expect him to be well handled by several others.
15. DAZZLE US – J Byrne (16)
After winning two Benchmark graded races back in March and April of this year, the 4yo trained by Bruce Hill has contested some of the better staying races over the Winter Carnival and, whilst he has finished in the first half of the field in most of them, hasn’t quite been able to find the extra improvement needed to secure a place. He boxed on well for a fifth in the Caloundra Cup at his most recent start but hard to see him bettering that in this race.
16. PIAZZA SAN PIETRO – K O’Hara (2)
Mudlark who has won four of his five starts on heavy ground, the other on slow. He had slow conditions last start when, in a BM 80 (2400m) last Saturday at Rosehill, he camped on the speed but was no match over the concluding stages for winner Secessio and ran two lengths second. Will roll forward again but need a bog track before being considered a hope.
17. TRAJET – R Thompson (13)
Led on the way on a leader’s bias track at Scone to record a comfortable 3 ½ length victory in a BM 75 (2200m) but in two subsequent runs, both on slow ground, in a BM 90 and G3 Tatt’s Cup, he’s finished a well beaten tenth and sixth respectively. Generally races forwarded but in a race with several also keen to settle handy, he’ll find it too hard from a wide gate.
18. HANDSOME DANE – B Avdulla (5)
7yo gelding who has won three of his past four starts including two here at Grafton however they have been in races well below the standard of this race and would expect him to be big odds.
19. PHRASES – (3)
Stable-mate to Zar Zar Binks who has won four of his nine starts to date. They’ve been in Maiden and Class 1 and 2 company and whilst he is progressing through his grades well, a race of this calibre will be well beyond at this point of his career.
OVERVIEW
Good race and with the big field and a couple who like to roll along in front or settle handy to the speed, this should be a genuine staying test. Wanted to see Destiny’s Kiss run out a strong 2400m last start before taking the short quote on offer in the Winter Cup and he did just that. He’s on a sharp improvement curve and despite a poor draw, will be well in this. Nash didn’t knock Rueben Percival around last start when he was beaten. It was a big ask, second up, 2400m, heavy track with 58kgs and he’s much better suited here. He’s not to be forgotten at the attractive price of $10.00 And it’s hard not to include Zennista. She rises 2kgs on her last start win but did carry 57kgs when a close up fourth behind proven Group performer in the G3 Lord Mayor’s Cup in her first Australian run and she’s definitely improved since then.