Grafton tips: Nash Rawiller heads north to help Cepheus defend his South Grafton Cup title

An improving track and the booking of champion jockey Nash Rawiller will go a long way to helping the Matthew Dunn-trained Cepheus make it back to back wins in the South Grafton Cup.

Cepheus is chasing back-to-back wins in the South Grafton Cup. Picture: Grant Guy

Multi-millionaire gelding Cepheus can take one giant leap towards a second successive Big Dance appearance if he is able to defend his South Grafton Cup (1600m) title.

The Matthew Dunn-trained son of Sea The Stars earned his spot in last year’s Big Dance after a narrow but still decisive win in the 2023 South Grafton Cup, shouldering all of his 62kg.

“It is not as strong as last year but we have drawn a wide gate which is a problem,” Dunn said.

“I think he has go forward, I can’t see a leader.”

While Cepheus’s double digit draw is a clear negative on paper at least, a sunny build-up to the feature changes everything - literally.

“The track rating was back to a 7 (on Friday) and could get back to a 5 on race day and a bit better than that later in the day,” Dunn said.

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!

All honours to Cepheus!

A tough effort under a big weight sees him win the South Grafton Cup. 🏆@mattydunnracing@[e-mail]/wRiisVgbVn

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 9, 2023

“If it went up 7 race morning, I wouldn’t run him but they’re pretty confident it is going to improve.”

Cepheus will arrive in the South Grafton Cup third-up this campaign having gone around at Eagle Farm twice last month in the Stradbroke Handicap and Tatts Mile after that.

“The Stradbroke, he just needed the run and get some flow,” Dunn said.

“He was good the other day, he probably just peaked on his run the last 20 metres or something.

“The race didn’t work out perfectly for him either. If he doesn’t get held-up he just about wins so he is back on track and going really well.”

Cepheus’s presence in the Cup has lured Nash Rawiller to Grafton.

His record on the chestnut is seven rides for three wins and two placings, one of those as runner-up in the 2023 The Big Dance.

“Nash is keen to ride him,” Dunn said.

“Obviously he wants to ride him in Sydney again and he’ll just have the same preparation as he did last year. We will just follow the same path as we did the last time in.”

North Of Eli justifies his support with a convincing win!@AshMorgan6 with a well measured ride for @mattydunnracing. pic.twitter.com/c5DcQyhtAh

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 11, 2023

Dunn has a busy and potentially lucrative day ahead with several of Cepheus’ stablemates placed to perform.

Chief among them is North Of Eli who lines-up in the Donovan Livestock Class 3 Showcase Handicap (1410m) in the wake of a closing third at Doomben over 1200m.

“He has been racing well. His last run was strong,” said Dunn.

“He is looking to get out a little bit further now so I think it is the right race for sure.”

North Of Eli is bred to delight the breeding buffs.

The horse’s sire Headwater won the Silver Slipper while the respective sires of his first three dams all won the Golden Slipper namely Sebring, Catbird and Rory’s Jester.

Another of Dunn’s major players on the South Grafton Cup undercard is So You Can Torque who handed in a creditable debut at Lismore in the race won handily by stablemate Scarlett Thunder.

“So You Can Torque is a really nice horse. He has got loads of talent, he is just very immature and not that smart yet but he will get there,” Dunn said.

“I am hoping he can win on Sunday and then I will give him a break so he can get a bit stronger.”

SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 7 No. 6: North of Eli

Both of his career wins have been at Grafton. Nosed out of it last start at Doomben.

NEXT BEST

Race 6 No. 1: Cepheus

Won this race last year, along with 6 others, two of them stakes races. On his way to a peak.

VALUE BET

Race 3 No. 8: Traveller

Ran okay for a $20 shot on debut at Ballina over 1010m. Wants this trip right away.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 1, 7, 8

Race 5: 1, 2, 5, 11

Race 6: 1, 2, 3, 4

Race 7: 4, 6

Ashley Morgan looks set for a big day at Grafton. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Ashley Morgan will take some beating in the TAB Jockeys Challenge.

INSIDE MAIL - GRAFTON

RACE 1

Exorealm has conditions to suit, big time, starting with the fact that he has drawn barrier 2. There is no doubt the track is going to be rain-affected to some extent, certainly not Heavy but hopefully Exorealm is not just a wet tracker. Jewels Statement is a locally trained filly who has a win and two seconds from his three starts in January, February and March. Has loads of pace and take note, her win was from barrier one which she has here. Cool Storm paid some price at least for the wide draw at Newcastle.

Bet: Exorealm to win

RACE 2

Reel Torque is a blue blood of epic proportions. A son of Highland Reel, his third dam is Stella Cadente, his fifth is the blue-hen mare Eau D’Etoile. Reel Torque hasn’t been seen in public since his very impressive trial win here at Grafton back on November 26 so market watch is essential. One Smart Cookie has the race fitness edge. Has good speed but a wide draw. Stable do well when they visit each year. Dizzy Dee could be better this prep. Drawn well too.

Bet: Reel Torque to win

RACE 3

Traveller was bred by her owner-trainer Lisa Sheppard. He is by the winner-getter Bon Hoffa out of a Lonhro granddaughter of the NZ Derby winning filly Travel Light. With that in mind, how much better is Traveller suited going from 1010m to 1410m now bearing in mind that debut run was pretty darn encouraging. Hezanuff is another one that steps up quickly in distance but wants to. Ditto all that for the handsome and well-bred Matthew Dunn galloper So You Can Torque who ran an honourable race behind his handy stablemate on debut at Lismore recently.

Bet: Traveller each-way

Punjabi Landing produces a big run to cruise to victory in Race 4 at @scturfclub! @RacingShailerpic.twitter.com/A9nYRxAoqG

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 16, 2024

RACE 4

Punjabi Landing is trained at the Gold Coast by Paul Shailer who makes a welcome return to the NSW side of the border on South Grafton Cup Day. Punjabi Landing is a son of Puissance De Lune so he will stay. He was building up nicely that last start win over 1800m on the Sunshine Coast which was barnstorming and easy in equal measures. Quinky Deel, the Dundeel son of Marquardt, is more often than not in and around the money and sometimes in better races, not that this isn’t quite strong.

Bet: Punjabi Landing to win, exacta 7 to beat 8

RACE 5

Flying Banjo, the Tasmanian-bred, Tamworth-housed gelding chalks up his 60th start here searching for his ninth win or 12th second or fifth third. Trainer Stephen Dixon has the horse in great form bearing in mind that his last two runs are both seconds, one of those was to Magic Pharoah. Imperial Hilton is beautifully set-up for the mile now. Volfini has raced at home here 30 times (wow) for two wins and 14 placings. He does look very well ‘in’ here with barrier 1 and a mere 52kg.

Bet: Flying Banjo to win, Daily Double 1st Leg (5), 2nd Leg (6)

RACE 6

Cepheus won this race last year with 62kg, the same weight as he will carry (with Nash Rawiller on top). The wide draw is not ideal but it’s hardly a deal breaker. At the end of the day, Cepheus (runner-up in the 2023 Big Dance) is far and away the best performed horse in the Cup and third-up and building. Caesars Palace is a tough and genuine gelding. There are two reasons he can win in my opinion; one is barrier 3 and the other is Ben Looker. If Diamond Diesel runs the mile out, and I am not suggesting he won’t, he might charge past them all.

Bet: Cepheus to win, box trifecta 1, 2, 3, 4

RACE 7

North Of Eli is easy to find and even easier to like. The Matthew Dunn-trained gelding has an overall record of 14 starts for two wins and five placings, four of them are seconds. Must mention that both of North Of Eli’s wins are at Grafton and that’s from only two visits. Had next time written all over him when a closing third at Doomben. Shihab deserves to be forgiven for the Highway run last start. Some tracks are just too wet for horses, even sometimes for muddies like Shihab. Nickleback is costly but consistent.

Bet: North Of Eli to win