2020 GRAFTON CUP: Racing wrap
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Here's a full recap of every race from Iron Jack Grafton Cup Day at Clarence River Jockey Club...
RACE 1 - Cleary says Kiss My Swiss in Grafton Cup Day opener
QUEANBEYAN trainer Joe Cleary kicked off Grafton Cup Day with a bang after Kiss My Swiss took care of business in the Fidelity Capital Benchmark 66 Showcase Handicap 1000m.
RACE 2 - Auntie Monnie does the job for Blanch
A LATE surge to the line was enough for Armidale-based Auntie Monnie to claim victory over race favourite Enterprise Keren in the Bidfood Class 1 Showcase Handicap (1400 metres).
RACE 3 - Looker hits Simply Sacred for six in Mother's Gift
BEN Looker claimed his first win in Grafton Cup Day after a confident ride on heavy favourite Simply Sacred in the Tab Mother's Gift 1400m.
RACE 4 - Freya's Cloak buttons up Springboard to Fame win
THE NBN Springboard to Fame 2YO Showcase Plate (1200 metres) has a long history of seeing some fantastic runners, and Freya's Cloak looks every bit the champion.
RACE 5 - Gibbo' produces '10 out of 10' ride to clinch Big Maiden
VETERAN jockey Andrew Gibbons continued to impress at the July Carnival in Grafton with a win for Cody Morgan in the $45,000 Big Maiden Showcase Handicap 1200m at Grafton. Full story here
RACE 6 - Too fast, too strong, Two Big Fari
TOO fast and too strong, Two Big Fari was all of the above in the Village Green Hotel Country Magic Association Class 6 Showcase Plate (1200 metres).
Accounting for an outside barrier and finding himself wide coming into the home straight, the four-year-old trained by Todd Howlett pulled clear and won by more than a length to claim its sixth win from nine starts.
GRAFTON CUP DAY - OUT AND ABOUT
It wasn't all about the racing at Clarence River Jockey Club on Grafton Cup Day, as easing of coronavirus restrictions meant members were allowed at the track, with a crowd just shy of 1000 enjoying the day out.
RACE 7 - 61kg topweight Sixties Groove makes Grafton Cup history
SIXTIES Groove hmowed down the field from second last to win the $200,000 Iron Jack Grafton Cup over 2350 metres at Clarence River Jockey Club.
The win was Newcastle trainer Kris Lees' first Grafton Cup victory and the 61kg topweight became the highest weight carrying winner of the Grafton Cup since the 1964.
Sixties Groove ($3.50fav, Jason Collett) beat home The Lord Mayor ($9, Lee Magorrian) by a head with Carzoff ($4.60, Glen Boss) a further length back in third, both trained by Chris Waller.
RACE 8 - Trust Me repays trainer's faith in Sir James Kirby Hcp
A PHOTO-FINISH between three horses vying for honours in the $75,000 Sir James Kirby Handicap (1000 metres) highlighted a thrilling finish to Grafton Cup Day at Clarence River Jockey Club on Thursday.
Right on the line it was Trust Me that snatched victory from the Peter Robl trained race favourite All Cylinders ($1.85, Glen Boss) and Sue Grills trained Under The Thumb ($41, Andrew Adkins) to give trainer Brett Partelle the win.
FULL PREVIEW: THE $200,000 IRON JACK GRAFTON CUP LINEUP with Mark Mazzaglia
THE 2020 Grafton Cup looks likely to be a battle between the big stables with both Chris Waller and Kris Lees set to saddle up three runners each.
Waller will have Carzoff, The Lord Mayor and Satono Rasen to contest the 2350m Listed Grafton Cup at Grafton on Thursday while Lees prepares Sixties Groove, Big Duke and Frankely Awesome for the staying test.
We have analysed the entire field of sixteen and our complete 2020 Grafton Cup tips can be found below!
Sixties Groove
Sixties Groove has been allocated the top weight of 61kg but is used to carry plenty of weight and was runner up last start with 60kg behind Frankely Awesome in the Listed W J McKell Cup (2000m) at Rosehill on June 27. Has each way claims again.
Carzoff
Carzoff hasn't been far off the pace of late with a second in the Listed Winter Cup (2400m) and a third in the Listed W J McKell Cup (2000m), both at Rosehill, and has each way claims despite drawing a wide gate.
Big Duke
Veteran stayer Big Duke is struggling to find his best form and looks tested again on his last start tenth in the Listed W J McKell Cup (2000m) at Rosehill.
Frankely Awesome
Scratched.
The Lord Mayor
The Chris Waller trained The Lord Mayor hasn't found the winner's stall since January but a win here wouldn't surprise on his last start fourth in the Listed W J McKell Cup (2000m) at Rosehill.
La Pulga
La Pulga is an improving stayer who wasn't beaten that far last start when runner up in the Group 3 Premiers Cup (2200m) at Doomben and has each way claims again.
Primitivo
Primitivo has failed to threaten at his last two starts, his latest an eighth in the Listed W J McKell Cup (2000m) at Rosehill. Facing similar opposition here.
Satono Rasen
Satono Rasen went forward last start and set the pace before finishing fourth in the Group 3 Premiers Cup (2200m) at Doomben. Might go forward again from a wide gate but will still find it tough going.
Partnership
Partnership has been well beaten at his last two outings and hard to see him threaten on his last start eleventh in the Grafton Cup Prelude (2230m) at Grafton on June 28.
Nemingah
Nemingah made it three wins from his last four starts but will find this tougher than his win in the Grafton Cup Prelude (2230m) at Grafton on June 28.
Champagne Vega
Champagne Vega is still eligible for restricted grade and is facing a big step up in class on his last start fourth in 2212m Eagle Farm Benchmark 78 Handicap.
Commander Bell
Commander Bell has been placed at his last three starts, all in restricted grade. His latest a second in a 2310m Newcastle Benchmark 64 Handicap.
I'll Miss You
Harder here for I'll Miss You following her latest fourth in the Grafton Cup Prelude (2230m) at Grafton on June 28.
Winkler
Winkler looks tested on his last start eighth in the Grafton Cup Prelude (2230m) at Grafton on June 28.
Mister Maker
Mister Maker is well out of his class following a third in a 2020m Murwillumbah Benchmark 68 Handicap.
Kilmarnock
Kilmatnock is one of the outsiders of the field after finishing fourth in a 1600m Grafton Benchmark 85 Handicap.
