A classy field of fifteen runners has been confirmed for Thursday’s featured 2016 Grafton Cup (2350m); highlighted by the inclusion of some of the winter’s standout stayers.
Index Linked has been confirmed in the 2016 Grafton Cup field. Photo: Sarah Ebbett
Leading trainer Chris Waller will have a representative in the feature race, after confirming Index Linked in the 2016 Grafton Cup field.
Index Linked has posted a commendable twelve race wins and ten minors through forty-three career starts so far, and while returning to racing for a forgettable twelfth in the Group 3 Doncaster Prelude (1500m), responded well for second in the Group 3 Japan Racing Association Plate (2000m) on April 16th.
Progressing to fifth in the Listed Mord Mayors Cup (2000m) before a luckless run for eighth in the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2200m) on May 28th, the Dansili gelding ran on for a credible fifth in the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) before returning to winning form in the Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup (2200m) on June 25th.
While failing to match the late pace when seventh in the Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) last time out on July 2nd, Index Linked should relish the conditions of the 2016 Grafton Cup.
Leading Queensland trainer Tony Gollan will launch a multi-pronged assault on the race after including both Amexed and Brave Ali in the 2016 Grafton Cup field.
Amexed stamped himself as a horse to follow through the 2014 edition of the Brisbane Winter Carnival, but was subsequently unlucky to miss more than a year of racing following a string of unfortunate ailments.
Taking out the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) during the 2014 winter, the Pentire gelding progressed to fourth in the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) before running fifth in the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m).
Requiring a couple of runs to find form upon resuming this time, Amexed placed third in the Hot fm BM80 (1650m) on May 21st before returning to winning form in the Ipswich Provincial Stayers Cup (2150m) before repeating the dose in the Caloundra Cup last time out.
Brave Ali resumed this time for twelfth in the Listed Prime Minister’s Cup (1400m) on May 7th, before placing sixth in the Lord Mayor’s Cup three weeks later.
While failing to fire in Listed Wayne Wilson Mile (1600m) on June 11th, the O’reilly gelding ran on for fifth in the Tattersall’s Cup last time out.
A number of other notable runners have been confirmed in the 2016 Grafton Cup field, including Godolphin runner Malice and Teronado.
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2016 Grafton Cup Field and Barrier Draw
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | H Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 00×0258517 | INDEX LINKED (GB) | Chris Waller | Rory Hutchings | 3 | 60kg | 104 |
| 2 | 250×953343 | MALICE | John O’Shea | Brenton Avdulla | 8 | 57kg | 98 |
| 3 | 2526×98113 | FOREIGN PRINCE (NZ) | David Payne | Jason Collett | 15 | 55.5kg | 95 |
| 4 | 49×0319022 | JUMBO PRINCE | Michael Nolan | Jim Byrne | 6 | 55.5kg | 95 |
| 5 | 0x69x60311 | AMEXED (NZ) | Tony Gollan | Robbie Fradd | 1 | 55kg | 94 |
| 6 | 83x96x0605 | BRAVE ALI (NZ) | Tony Gollan | Ms Tegan Harrison | 10 | 54kg | 89 |
| 7 | 61124×9744 | JIAYUGUAN (IRE) | John P Thompson | Glyn Schofield | 11 | 54kg | 89 |
| 8 | 737662×002 | TERONADO | Bruce W Hill | Robert Thompson | 9 | 54kg | 86 |
| 9 | 06328×8768 | DREAM FOLK | Gregory Hickman | Grant Buckley (late alt) | 2 | 54kg | 83 |
| 10 | x253146754 | EGYPTIAN RULER | Ken Lantry | Andrew Gibbons | 12 | 54kg | 76 |
| 11 | 31×0825123 | ALL CLEAR | Noel Doyle | Paul King | 4 | 54kg | 75 |
| 12 | 0x51638301 | REDNAV | Sally Taylor | Peter Graham | 13 | 54kg | 71 |
| 13 | 09×6047163 | SWIFT LADY (NZ) | John Sargent | Ms Winona Costin (a) | 14 | 54kg | 70 |
| 14 | 9151403688 | KINGSTON TIME | Paul Grills | Ms Jodi Worley (a) | 7 | 54kg | 67 |
| 15 | 4×14168043 | LIGHT MOTION | Shane Everson | Ms Cassandra Schmidt (a) | 5 | 54kg | 62 |
