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 18 July 2024
Grafton Cup Race History
See the 2024 Grafton Cup Preview and Results.
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 |
| 2024 | Deny Knowledge | Touristic | Thalassophile |
| 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 |