In-form stayer Amexed has drawn the rails barrier in the Listed $160,000 McKimms Real Estate Grafton Cup (2350m) at Grafton on Thursday.
Amexed, above, has drawn the rails in the Grafton Cup at Grafton Photo by Daniel Costello.
The Tony Gollan trained Amexed with Robbie Fradd in the saddle is chasing a hat trick after winning a 2150m BenchMark 80 Handicap at Ipswich on Ipswich Cup Day followed by a win in the Listed $175,000 Cellar Maintenance Australia Caloundra Cup (2400m) at the Sunshine Coast on July 2.
Gollan was very pleased to see Amexed back in the winner’s stall at Ipswich after the five year old showed so much promise during his three year old season.
“This horse won the Rough Habit Plate and was fifth in the Queensland Derby as a three-year-old but things went wrong and it wasn’t until Ipswich he won again,” Gollan said.
“I believe he is potentially the best stayer I have trained and I am so pleased for the owners because they didn’t complain once when he struck the bad patch.”
Gollan will also saddle up Brave Ali who has drawn barrier ten in the fifteen horse Grafton Cup field with Tegan Harrison to ride again following a last start fifth to Index Linked in the Group 3 $200,000 Carlton Mid Tattersall’s Cup (2200m) at Eagle Farm on June 25.
Harrison has been the regular rider for Brave Ali who hasn’t been in the winner’s stall since leading all of the way to take out the 2014 Listed $175,000 Ipswich Cup (2150m) at Ipswich.
Top weight Index Linked had also draw well at barrier three with Rory Hutchings replacing Kerrin McEvoy who was aboard the Chris Waller gelding last start when seventh to Amexed in the Caloundra Cup.
Index Linked was a winner at his previous start when he took out Tattersall’s Cup , his first visit to the winner’s stall since saluting in the 2015 Caloundra Cup.
The David Payne trained Foreign Prince with Jason Collett booked to ride, has drawn the outside of the fifteen horse field.
Foreign Prince is coming off some good Sydney form that saw him win two Open Handicaps in a row at Rosehill over 1800m and 2000m before running third to Tucanchoo in the Listed $100,000 ATC Winter Cup (2400m) at Rosehill on July 2.
Malice from the John O’Shea stable has drawn midfield at barrier eight with Brenton Avdulla to ride and is coming off a last start third to Index Linked in the Tattersall’s Cup.
Consistent Toowoomba stayer Jumbo Prince has regular rider Jim Byrne in the saddle again and will jump from gate six in the Grafton Cup.
The Michael Nolan trained four year old is overdue for a win after filling the the runner’s up stall at his last two starts when second to Maurus in the Listed $175,000 Channel 7 Ipswich Cup (2150m) at Ipswich on June 18 followed by a second to Amexed in the Caloundra Cup.
