Don Diego De Vega wins drama-filled Grafton Cup

Don Diego De Vega won the 2025 Grafton Cup but there was no shortage of drama as a horse threw the race away.

Don Diego De Vega won the Grafton Cup. Picture: Getty Images

There was no shortage of drama in the 2025 renewal of Thursday’s $200,000 Grafton Cup (2350m).

Race favourite Bear On The Loose was scratched just before the field was set to jump while second favourite Quietness ran off the track in the concluding stages and cost itself the race.

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Quietness led the field of 12 and travelled strongly into the home bend before wandering about and opening the door for Don Diego De Vega to snatch the victory.

Don Diego De Vega, trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, also found his way into the centre of the track under Zac Lloyd after coming from closer to the fence but didn’t impede the run of any other horses in doing so.

DON DIEGO DE VEGA wins the Grafton Cup!@ZacLloydx gets the best out of the @ANeashamRacing grey to take out the @clarenceriverjc's feature race, running down Quietness with Zoology in third. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/cAwLaIt3O7

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) July 17, 2025

It gives Lloyd his first win in the day two feature and he admitted he had to change plans after Bear On The Loose was a late withdrawal.

“My plan sort of changed in the barriers when Bear On The Loose got scratched as one of the speed runners in the race,” Lloyd said.

“Going to the gates he was full of energy so I was confident he was going to begin well and once he did that it made my job pretty easy.

“Got the perfect run behind Quietness and obviously it rolled off the fence and my bloke shot through.

“I probably should have changed my whip when he ran out but he was in front and it didn’t matter.”

Quietness fought back but was unable to bridge back the margin after losing all of its momentum and finished second for John O’Shea and Tom Charlton.

Queensland raider Zoology ran on for third spot while Touristic was fourth.

Originally published as Don Diego De Vega wins drama-filled Grafton Cup