Grafton Cup Race Information

The Grafton Cup is a 2350 metre quality handicap race run by the Clarence River Jockey Club on the second Thursday in July. It is held at Grafton as part of the July Racing Carnival.

  • Race Type: Listed
  • Distance: 2350 metres
  • Conditions: Quality handicap
  • Track: Grafton Racecourse, Grafton, New South Wales
  • Prizemoney: $200,000
  • Date: Thursday 13 July 2023

Grafton Cup Race History

See the 2022 Grafton Cup Preview and Results.

The race dates back to 1910 and has attracted many top trainers and jockeys over the year. Jim Pike who was famous for riding Phar Lap won aboard Hosier in 1924 – the 3rd year that horse won the race. In 1960 Neville Sellwood, famous for his association with Tulloch, won on Castle Burn. In 1987 it was won by Kensei who went on to win the 1987 Melbourne Cup.

Useful Facts

Last mare to win: Purrfect Deal (2021)

Last 3YO to win: C&G – Stormhill (2005); Filly – none

Multiple winners: Oppressor (1994& 1995); Jardel (1974 & 1975); Home James (1963 & 1964); Hosier ( 1922, 1923 & 1924); Longwy (1919 & 1920)

Leading jockey: Larry Olsen with 5 wins (Cross Swords 1992, Shuzohra 1989, Kensei 1987, Wave King 1975, Jardel 1974)

Fastest time (2350m): Bonfire (2001) 2:22:59

Grafton Cup & Melbourne Cup: Kensei (1987)

Interesting trivia:

Past winners of the Grafton Cup

Winners of past Grafton Cups include horses that go on to win major spring races.

Year Winner Second Third
2023 Zoumon Outlandos Spirit Ridge
2022 Arapaho Rebel Rama Dr Drill
2021 Purrfect Deal Laure Me In Parry Sound
2020 Sixties Groove The Lord Mayor Carzoff
2019 Sacred Day Sopressa Vaucluse Bay
2018 First Crush Winkler Reneged
2017 Supply And Demand Get On The Grange Montauk
2016 Rednav All Clear Jumbo Prince
2015 Bonfire Kapour Shoreham
2014 Queenstown Secessio Noisy Ocean
2013 Mr O’ceirin Yulalona Reuben Percival
2012 Shamardashing Saint Encosta Warrior Within
2011 Warrior Within Gold In Dubai Shuffle The Cash
2010 Twin Wing Frozone Ironstein
2009 Castle Heights Hume Twin Wing
2008 Art Success Belmonte Juerga
2007 Ashraf Kincharm Casa De Campo
2006 Rocking On Gaze On Victory Charm
2005 Stormhill Precise Timing Dancing Daggers
2004 Pacific Dancer Corporate Queen Zabeat
2003 Belus Majestically Legerdemain
2002 Master Pom Paestum Asia
2001 Desk Top Lover Crown Mahal Viva La Vie
2000 Simigan Super Revenir Akwazoff
1999 Count Scenario Wawerri Melora
1998 Catapult Mack ‘n’ Me Wawerri
1997 Akwazoff Dannemora Mack ‘n’ Me
1996 Praise Indeed Prince Rupert Akwazoff
1995 Oppressor Ardeed Mine Blast
1994 Oppressor Major Decision Oompala
1993 Abstraction De Lisle Our Manivor
1992 Cross Swords Royal Chela Wymston Star
1991 Rural Prince Aquidity Ecliptic
1990 Stirring Go Timmy Our Palliser
1989 Shuzohra Stirring Opening Number
1988 Sasha Bijou Galligaskins That’s Jack
1987 Kensei One Guinea Firetint
1986 Les’ Choice Meeting Mr Dithie
1985 Rushcutter Jo Oughto Coober’s Gold
1984 Riverdale Rose And Thistle Hot Ally
1983 Ward’s Mistake Cobbler’s Fair Hagenblu
1982 Osmiridium Big Bickie
Just Kez		  * dead-heat 2nd
1981 My Star Sapphire Top Ware Golden Inn
1980 Under Orders Golden Inn Even Red
1979 French Command Drop A Note Solina
1978 Zamazaan Lass Nirangi Badour
1977 Sweet Aroma Brick Veneer Denise’s Joy
1976 Ontonic Manawapoi Il Bandito
1975 Wave King Sasan Of Gold Golden Khan
1974 Jardel Lorne Zeba
1973 Jardel Big Butch Big Boss
1972 Big Butch Mixed Grill Develop
1971 Barrylyn’s Idol Big Butch Red Piper
1970 What’s Brewing Trial And Error Merry Jack
1969 Jupiter Royal Display Golden Glimpse
1968 Merry Jack Mullen’s Lane Felix Dee
1967 Sky Sailor Income Tax Ignite
1966 Carnival Flotsam Prince Judea
1965 Patient Polly Royal Banquet Flotsam
1964 Home James Sonar Beam Alcibiades
1963 Home James Zend El Rocca
1962 Golden Seaman Ornon Glance Topic
1961 Prince Rezan Flash Hero Orara River
1960 Castle Burn Flash Hero Magic Fort
1959 Flash Hero Dream King Main Guy
1958 Dail Eiraenn Amanullah Dear Charles
1957 Electric Glance Matouree Belshazzar
1956 Dashing Lucie Main Guy Half Past
1955 Pembroke Trovatore Main Guy
1954 True Bill Unfaan Corral
1953 Alinga Britavah Ben Hero
1952 Northern Warrior Keelanie Castus
1951 Bonny Romance  Northern Warrior Yeoval
1950 Au Secour  Northern Warrior Coranderrk
1949 Phos Werriston King  Northern Warrior
1948 Coalition Brekko Gold Valley
1947 Kiaree Man O’War Spearex
1946 Spearex Silent High Tension
1945  ** Race not run **
1944  ** Race not run **
1943  ** Race not run **
1942  ** Race not run **
1941 Aralys Goose Boy Snow Queen
1940 Hendra Lad Buccolic Snow Queen
1939 Fearless Hybol Own Folk
1938 Buzalong Jocular Spearbleu
1937 Milantheon Osculum Eva Dee
1936 Osculum Verberry Ruffian
1935 Thalwyn Naberthong Brown Force
1934 Mr Kerry Confab Regal Star
1933 Barren Corn Ranchero Kitwood
1932 Kelberg Phillipic Jimmy Poitrel
1931 Verdonia Phillipic Prince Seremond
1930 Garrula Prince Seremond Derryvale
1929 Chipwood Sapilly Jimmy Poitrel
1928 Sharp Son Mills Bomb Cute Bird
1927 Coolgong Don Panther Feathernest
1926 Cyllene Laddie Mingelo Unumgar
1925 Eaton Boy Gold Stud Easter Egg
1924 Hosier Glen Rouken Ulandra
1923 Hosier Rathluba Laughter
1922 Hosier Mucilage Just Peep
1921 Fair Desmond Malurys Cousin
1920 Longwy Moji Fair Desmond
1919 Longwy Duke Alwyne Cruzot
1918 Lord Marajax Quarale Crossway
1917 Cruzot Electrolyte Machine Boy
1916 Norbury Nojah Noviro
1915 La Balfour Nojah Football
1914 Miss Minona Bunbury Inia
1913 Barlow Abba Busra
1912 Othone Sir T.T. Somnifer
1911 George Gunn Black Price Amborina
1910 Gosine Ariki Noria