2016 Grafton Cup Late Mail

Thirteen runners remain in contention for this afternoon’s 2016 Grafton Cup (2350m) following the scratching of both Jiayuguan and Swift Lady, and betting markets for the country feature are continuing to change rapidly in the hours leading up to jump.

Jumbo Prince has firmed noticeably in 2016 Grafton Cup betting markets, in the hours leading up to jump. Photo: Daniel Costello

Jumbo Prince has firmed noticeably in 2016 Grafton Cup betting markets, in the hours leading up to jump. Photo: Daniel Costello

It is the Queensland-based stayers that punters are turning their attention towards in 2016 Grafton Cup betting markets; all of Jumbo Prince, Amexed, Brave Ali and Teronado firming noticeably into their current quotes.

Toowoomba-based Jumbo Prince has returned to racing in typically smart form this time, is a multiple stakes winning and could very well receive the run of the race in the Grafton Cup from barrier 6.

Claiming a career total of ten wins and thirteen places through thirty-five starts, the Outback Prince entire finished third in the Listed Prime Minister’s Cup (1400m) on May 7th before returning to winning form in the Listed Tattersall’s Club Members’ Cup (1600m) a week later.

Failing to make much of an impact through his next two starts, Jumbo Prince has received an ideal lead-in to the Grafton Cup having finished second in each of the Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) and Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) most recently.

Jumbo Prince opened at Grafton Cup odds of $6 but has continued to receive steady support and has subsequently firmed into $4.80.

The Tony Gollan-trained Amexed and Brave Ali have both proven they are up the class of the Grafton Cup on their day, but it is arguably the former that stands the best chance of winning this afternoon.

Amexed stamped himself as a horse to follow through an impressive three-year-old campaign in 2013, but has been something of a forgotten runner in the last two years as a result of injury and lacklustre form.

The Pentire gelding has returned to particularly slick form this time however, and will be seeking his third-consecutive win in the Grafton Cup 2016 having taken out each of the Ipswich Provincial Stayers’ Cup (2400m) and Caloundra Cup at his two last starts.

Amexed is drawn on the rails with regular hoop Robbie Fradd in the saddle, and has firmed from his opening quote of $5.50 to currently register as clear $3.80 favourite and market mover.

Brave Ali will require luck from barrier 10 but has been charged with carrying only 54kgs, and has also firmed noticeably from $31 Grafton Cup odds to a current $20 quote.

Teronado is another runner that was undoubtedly at his best as a three-year-old, but trainer Bruce Hill is thrilled with the gelding’s condition and believes he will be well suited to the Grafton Cup mile-and-a-half.

Clearly requiring a couple of runs to find form this time, the son of Testa Rossa charged home for second in the Listed AM Giles Quality (1830m) last time out on June 25th.

Godolphin runner Malice has drifted to Grafton Cup odds of $4.80 at Ladbrokes Australia, while Index Linked ($5.50) and Foreign Prince ($8) are also yet to draw much interest.

About The Author

Jared Timms

Jared graduated with a journalism degree in 2011. He is a keen sports fan and has enjoyed many accolades for his lively writing style and comprehensive coverage of major sporting events and horse racing. Today, you can find Jared cheering on his beloved Manchester City with a beer in hand.