Thursday marks the 100th running of the time honoured Grafton Cup run every winter on the beautiful Northern Rivers race track. In 1987 a gelding named Kensei won the Grafton Cup; four month later he won the Melbourne Cup! This year’s field does not contain any fancies at this stage for the Melbourne Cup, but that just might change if something comes out and wins this race in dramatic or dominant fashion.
4th. No. 6 – Reuben Percival. This Waterhouse favourite has had two starts back from a spell for two pretty good runs. The gelding has won over this distance twice in the past and he is getting fitter with each run and it would not be a surprise if he came storming down the outside to run a place or even win.
3rd. No.8 – Shenzhou Steeds. This boy is starting to get a little bit costly but his last two runs have been full of merit and he will love the distance of this race. He is as fit as he can be and is down in the weights where he has traditionally run his best races.
2nd. No.7 – Peal Of Bells. This gelding was too bad for it to be true at his last start. Before that he had won two staying races in fantastic fashion and at his best he will be very hard to beat in this race.
1st. No.5 – Mr O’Ceirin. Another gelding that was terrible at his last start at $1.60. However the start before that he won a tough race with 59.5kg by 4 lengths. He has talent personified and he maybe the best credentialed horse to be a force in the spring.
Good luck.
By Zeb Armstrong
