Grafton races Sunday: Preview, best bets and inside mail

Imported gelding Cepheus may have arrived in Australia as a Melbourne Cup prospect but he is dancing towards a Cup victory at Grafton on Sunday. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Cepheus can book a spot in The Big Dance in November with a win in Sunday's South Grafton Cup. Picture: Grant Guy

Trainer Matthew Dunn may yet get to test Cepheus on the first Tuesday in November, just at a different venue from what was previously planned.

Born and bred in England, Cepheus is a son of Arc de Triomphe and English Derby winner Sea The Stars.

Cepheus’ peak performance in the northern hemisphere was at Deauville in France where easily outstayed his rivals to win the Listed Prix Arcangues over 2500m.

“He is an interesting horse,” Dunn says.

“We got him here thinking we were going to buy him for a Melbourne Cup and I don’t think he needs to go any further than a mile to be honest.

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

“I have kept him back in distance because I think he needs blinkers to concentrate late in races but in longer races he pulls too hard in them so I think we have found a happy medium around 1400m and a mile.

“Kept nice and sharp, he sprints really well with the best of them.”

Dunn and Cepheus won’t be at Flemington on the first Tuesday in November in 2023 but they could be at Royal Randwick instead should the pair take out Sunday’s South Grafton Cup (1610m).

The race is worth a ‘mere’ $80,000 but also carries Big Dance eligibility.

“This (the South Grafton Cup) was the plan, because looking at the Big Dance horses qualified so far, it would be perfect for him,” Dunn said.

“It just hinged on how he pulled up after the Glasshouse and he has been fantastic since last Saturday so there is no reason at all not to run him.”

Cepheus, the reigning ATC Ajax Stakes winner, will carry top of 62kg in Sunday’s feature with New South Wales’ leading rider (by wins) Aaron Bullock on board.

Trainer Matthew Dunn feels Cepheus is ideally suited in mile races in Australia.

“He deserves (the weight), he is a 102 rater,” Dunn says.

“Barrier 6 is absolutely perfect for him. He will find his spot just off-speed probably.

“He will put himself into the race without forcing him to get there and he will be strong late.”

Cepheus arrives at Grafton in great order and great form.

His four runs this campaign, all in black-type races Queensland include seconds in the Tails and Glasshouse Handicaps, a third in the Group 3 Chairman’s at Doomben and a close and closing fourth in the Eye Liner at Ipswich.

“He hasn’t missed a beat honestly, ever since he arrived here,” Dunn said.

Cepheus will have company in the South Grafton Cup from his stablemate Nishikori.

“I was a little bit surprised he got in, I didn’t think he would get a run actually,” Dunn said. “In all reality, he has not got anywhere near the form Cepheus has but in saying that he has got no weight and he is career best form himself.

“He is not there making up the numbers, he will run a decent race don’t worry about that.”

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 2 No. 1: TANGLEWOOD

Was $1.10 first-up at Taree and won by panels, lots of panels. Harder here but clearly has talent above the norm.

NEXT BEST

Race 4 No. 2: BOULANGER

Placed at five of his seven outings; he went within a nose of winning at Lismore last start. Getting close now.

BEST VALUE

Race 5 No. 12: WORLD ATLAS

Still a maiden after 14 runs but she has placed five times, four of them seconds. Might be the day.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 9, 12

Race 6: 1, 3, 6

Race 7: 1, 2, 4

Race 8: 6, 11

Leading NSW jockey Aaron Bullock can take out the feature race at Grafton on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Aaron Bullock’s main mission on Sunday is to ensure Cepheus picks up Big Dance eligibility via the South Grafton Cup.

INSIDE MAIL - GRAFTON

RACE 1

Russian Inn is trained here at Grafton by Greg Kilner and has turned in the two best runs of her seven start career at her last two appearances. On top of that, she has found a pretty skinny looking maiden, that said with the likelihood of some important potential non-runners. At the end of the day. Kilner’s filly should get her chance from barrier 3. Queen Of Elegance is a major player (if she comes). Ditto for Zumia, but she is unlikely. Outside of those, Naughty Nige has some claims.

Bet: Russian Inn to win

RACE 2

Tanglewood is an exciting horse. The Todd Howlett-trained three-year-old son of Smart Missile was $1.10 at Taree first-up by virtue of the fact that his rivals weren’t in his class and it showed. Tanglewood won by almost six lengths and ran 57.51s for the 1000m. This is a much better race by comparison but still well within his reach. Barrier 4 and Bullock seals the deal. Huss On First creates a whole of interest having her first run for John Shelton and with a tidy little resume over the border. Bochkareva and Hey Little Sister are in the mix.

Bet: Tanglewood to win, exacta 1 to beat 5

RACE 3

Bendolirra is trained locally (now) by Daniel Want who has had the gelding for the last two of his six starts. Those last two have been the best two so far as the form is concerned. Granted he got beaten a long way at Murwillumbah last start but he still beat the rest home. Get the impression he is ready for 1410m now. That goes double, nay triple, for the Ballina filly Revontulet who has placed at four of her five runs and was fourth at another one. Drawn wide here but still easy to like. Cardsharp has drawn a decent alley for a change.

Bet: Bendolirra to win, box trifecta 2, 3, 13, 5

RACE 4

Boulanger has been nominated for a race at Doomben on Wednesday. The Daiki Chujo-trained son of Maurice has done some good things in his career, reflected in his form page - five placings from seven starts. He went as close as possible to winning that 1410m maiden at Lismore last start. Go well again on Sunday. Son Of Heroic was fourth over the line in that same race at Lismore on June 20. That alone makes him a player here, more given that he is third-up. Icon Of Style is a mostly consistent filly. Dispute is a major hope.

Bet: Boulanger to win, exacta 2 to beat 7

Zac Wadick can land a race-to-race double on Sunday. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 5

World Atlas remains winless after 14 starts but to her credit, she has placed five times and four of those are seconds. In fact, she is ‘232’ coming into Sunday’s mission where he is nicely weighted again after Zac Wadick’s claim. Getting close. Same can be said for Diamondsaretrumps who hasn’t won in 35 starts and has only four thirds. Still, he is quite often thereabouts at the end of his races. King Cornelius doesn’t have as many ‘misses’ as a lot of his rivals.

Bet: World Atlas to win

RACE 6

Full Press is a Brett Dodson-trained gelding with a benchmark rating of 72 in a 66 race on Sunday hence why he was given 64kg. That all changes now that Dodson has booked Lachlan Scorse for the ride; that’s minus four kilos now for an apprentice that is making a real name himself and impressing those who ought to know. Franklin Corners is a reliable type who has raced well at Grafton many times in the past. Just needs even luck from the draw. Mr Severino was very unlucky at Wyong then was run down late by a handy one at Scone. Gobbled is well in contention.

Bet: Full Press to win

RACE 7

Cepheus has 62kg but he has earned it. For one, he is a stakes winner in France over 2500m and is the reigning winner of our ATC Ajax Stakes. You must respect a horse than can win stakes races over such a range of trips and he really hasn’t missed a beat since he got here no matter where or who he raced. Barrier 6 is perfect and who else would you want on your horse than Aaron Bullock? Cotehele is a classy Tavistock gelding from the John O’Shea stable who beat Kayobi and company at Rosehill prior to his close fifth in the Civic Stakes. Kapsali would need a personal best to win but he is a handy horse.

Bet: Cepheus to win

RACE 8

Agirlsbestfriend had no luck to speak of when she resumed in the Highway. She drew 12 of 14 and while she was always going to go back, she was a long way off the action and did get a little bump or two up the rise when she least needed it. Nothing racing in this has a bigger finish than her. Fire Up Bruce is another one that had excuses last start. The John Shelton-trained son of Furnaces was in great form before that so back home, he can atone. Wealthy Investor and Wonderwhen can easily figure.

Bet: Agirslbestfriend to win, quinella 6, 11