Crowned Empress wins 2022 Jacaranda Cup
A Port Macquarie-trained outsider has charged from nowhere to win the 2022 Jacaranda Cup at Grafton Racecourse. See all of the day’s highlights.
Grafton
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Port Macquarie-trained Crowned Empress has won the 2022 Jacaranda Cup, after a charging run from the back of the pack, carrying 55kg.
The mare is one of trainer John Sprague’s most successful horses, with the win taking her career earnings to over $100,000.
Sired by Group 1 champion Hallowed Crown, the highlight of spring racing in Grafton is the biggest win ($22,000) to date for the five-year-old.
With Crowned Empress never placing at Clarence Valley before, the win with veteran Gold Coast jockey Jason Taylor aboard, came as a welcome surprise.
After a flood and Covid-affected recent history, the heritage grandstand was abuzz with activity and drenched in Grafton sunshine to watch the 13-1 outsider come belting round the outside and charge through for victory.
Clarence Valley Jockey Club CEO Michael Beattie was “very, very pleased” with the day.
“This is a very important day for the CRJC because it gives us a chance to showcase our track away from the July racing carnival,” Mr Beattie said.
“We are NSW’s feature meeting for the day - normally Wednesdays are restricted to metropolitan areas.”
The significance of the meeting runs beyond showcasing the facilities at the ‘Randwick of the north’, it also spotlights the city in all its purple splendour.
“This is Grafton’s chance to shine - the colour shots of horses going to and from the barriers with the jacarandas in the background really does do a lot to highlight Grafton as the site of a great floral festival here in Australia,” Mr Beattie said.
The crowd, while small, was dotted with local personalities.
Recently crowned Jacaranda Ambassador Amanda Daffey was in attendance alongside other members of the Royal Party, including Kellie-Anne Goodwin and Gerelle Blanchard.
Mr Beattie was gratified to see Grafton regulars take out the Cup, with John Sprague “probably having runners at maybe 20 of our 25 meetings a year”.
“You always like to see those people who support the Grafton community having success at the pointy end and winning major events,” Mr Beattie said.
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