Blake Shinn and Deny Knowledge defy their rivals to win the Listed Grafton Cup

Top jockey Blake Shinn delivered a perfect ride on Deny Knowledge to land his third Grafton Cup.

Deny Knowledge gave jockey Blake Shinn his third Grafton Cup success on Thursday. Picture: Grant Peters - Trackside Photography

Star jockey Blake Shinn completed the ultimate hit-and-run mission to snare his third Listed $200,000 Grafton Cup (2350m) with a peach of a ride on interstate raider Deny Knowledge at Grafton on Thursday.

The Victorian-based hoop came to the NSW Northern Rivers for one ride but was at his brilliant best to boot home the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained mare.

Shinn made the decisive move mid-race when the pace slackened to bring Deny Knowledge to the front and control proceedings from there to propel the six-year-old home.

Sydney trainers Peter and Paul Snowden looked a chance of claiming the Ramornie Handicap-Grafton Cup double when Touristic loomed as a genuine threat at the top of the straight.

It's Deny Knowledge in the Grafton Cup of 2024! 🏆

A @blake_shinn special for @FreedmanRacing. @clarenceriverjcpic.twitter.com/4JUySe7xdi

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 18, 2024

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But the Snowden challenger peaked on his run inside the final furlong as Deny Knowledge ($2.45 fav) gave a strong kick to score by three quarters of a length with four and a quarter lengths back to Chris Waller’s Thalassophile ($12).

Shinn’s Cup win comes 11 years after his first Grafton Cup success aboard the Ciaron Maher-trained Mr O’Ceirin in 2013 before he won the race again two years later on Gai Waterhouse’s Bonfire.

Meanwhile, Deny Knowledge was having just her second start for the Freedmans after being snapped up by $500,000 for racing and breeding powerhouse Yulong at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale.

The daughter of Pride Of Dubai is swiftly paying off that price tag, having banked $37,000 when running second in the Listed Tattersall’s Gold Crown at Eagle Farm.

Deny Knowledge banked a further $109,000 for her Cup victory to take her career earnings with in touching distance of a $1 million.

The Mack Griffith-trained Compelling Truth enhanced his The Kosciuszko credentials with a slashing performance to win the $75,000 Sir James Kirby Quality (1000m) to conclude the card.

Originally published as Blake Shinn and Deny Knowledge defy their rivals to win the Listed Grafton Cup