Grafton will host their biggest raceday on Thursday with Grafton Cup Day. The $150,000 Listed event, run over 2350m, has attracted a quality field, headed by the 2013 heroine Mr O’Ceirin. The day doesn’t end there, with other good races including the $50,000 Sir James Kirby Quality (1000m) and the $40,000 Mother’s Gift (1400m).
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Race One: 10 Gelsomina
Race Two: 3 Fiercely Defiant
Race Three: 6 Stable Surprize
Race Four: 10 Slainte
Race Five: 7 Kanguru
Race Six: 2 Shazza’s Bubbles
Race Seven: 6 Hoylonny
Race Eight: 9 Terra Amata
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Best Bet: Race Two Number 3 Fiercely Defiant
Next Best: Race Five Number 7 Kanguru
Value Bet: Race Seven Number 6 Hoylonny
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Leg One: 2, 3, 4, 7, 8
Leg Two: 2, 3, 4, 8
Leg Three: 5, 6, 7, 9
Leg Four: 1, 4, 5, 9, 10
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In the news:
Ironstein chasing Grafton Cup 2014 success
Veteran stayer Ironstein gets the chance to add the Listed Grafton Cup to his record at what may or may not be his final start.
Trainer Gerald Ryan is pleased with the eight-year-old heading into Thursday’s Cup (2350m) which has been slated as his swan song.
But Ryan said there might still be more to come.
“It’s not set in cement that the Grafton Cup will be his last race,” Ryan said.
“If the owners decide to keep going then that’s what we will do.
“He is in good order and we’ll see what happens later this week.”
Ryan said rain on race day thwarted Ironstein’s bid to win the recent Caloundra Cup, four years after he claimed his first stakes success in the Sunshine Coast feature.
He has since taken his earnings beyond $1 million and although not among the elite stayers, Ironstein has performed well at his only two starts at Group One level, running fourth in the 2011 Metropolitan and fourth again last year.
He finished fifth in this year’s Caloundra Cup won by Brayroan.
There are 19 acceptors for Thursday’s Grafton Cup which has a capacity field of 16.
Last year’s winner Mr O’Ceirin has drawn poorly in 17 as he makes his way home to Victoria after a mixed Queensland winter campaign.
His four starts yielded Group Two seconds in the Hollindale Stakes behind Streama and the Eagle Farm Cup won by Moriarty, as well as two unplaced runs including his ninth in the Caloundra Cup.
Blake Shinn takes the ride at Grafton while Paul Hammersley, who won the 2002 Queensland Oaks as an apprentice on the Ryan-trained Mon Mekki, is aboard Ironstein who jumps from gate two.
There are 13 scheduled runners in Wednesday’s Listed Ramornie Hcp (1200m) with Scone trainer Rod Northam and champion jockey Robert Thompson to join forces again with early favourite Big Money.
The trainer/jockey combination was successful on Sunday, winning the South Grafton Cup with Myamira.
After an unlucky second behind Cape Kidnappers in the Listed Lightning Hcp (1000m) at Eagle Farm, Big Money turned the tables on the Queensland speedster in the Group Three Healy Stakes.