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Timeform Preview: 2015 Grafton Cup

3 minute read

A reinvigorated Kapour can continue on his winning ways contesting the Listed Grafton Cup on Thursday.

Kapour Picture: Racing and Sports

Kapour had been struggling since making his Australian debut earlier in the season however turned a corner last month.

A 2400m jumps trial at Cranbourne on June 17 seemingly sparked the French import back to life who then proceeded to produce a dominant 4.5 length victory at Rosehill in the Winter Cup.

In a race void of early speed, the gelding was taken to the front by Kerrin McEvoy.

Afforded a leisurely time in the lead, running down Kapour was always going to prove tough.

He proceeded to cruise away from his struggling rivals in the straight with the 4.5 length victory returning a Timeform rating of 106.

A Group performed French stayer, this figure sits near his peak of 107 achieved twice during the French summer of 2013.

Kapour ran to his master figure for the second time in a 1900m Group 3 Handicap at Bordeaux.

Second in the race was Bonfire who is now trained by Gai Waterhouse.

It’s a small world with Bonfire shaping as his main danger on Thursday after running second in the Winter Cup.

Bonfire has performed well so far this campaign.

The son of Manduro ran fourth on resuming in the Hawkesbury Cup and under the circumstances, his second behind Kapour last start was full of merit.

Bonfire produced the result carrying 59kg over 2400m on a testing Rosehill track.

There were also fitness queries over the imported galloper rising 800m in trip second run from a spell.

While beaten 4.5 lengths, it was a strong display moving forward.

He will have taken further improvement from the outing third run from a spell and also meets Kapour 2kg better at the weights.

Blake Shinn rides and from an outside barrier, expect the pair to roll across and be prominent.

14 runners contest the Grafton Cup after the scratchings of both Maurus and Gosh.

Of those 14, half sit inside the handicap.

Chris Waller as is usually the case with off-season staying features possesses a strong hand, this time with a dual pronged attack of Reigning and Danchai.

Danchai ran third in the Winter Cup while stablemate Reigning brings a different form line to the contest.

Reigning has worked nicely into his latest campaign.

The son of Choisir won at Rosehill over 2000m two starts ago and was running on strongly at the course over 1900m five days ago.

Waller backs the gelding up on a five day turnaround, something the leading Rosehill horseman has used to good effect in the past.

Reigning sits just above the limit weight and on adjusted ratings, appears ideally placed fifth run from a spell.

Shoreham caught the eye late at his stable debut for Gerald Ryan when second in the Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup (2400m).

Settled back in the field by jockey Brenton Avdulla, Shoreham rattled home in the Gold Coast staying event.

While developing the tag of a non winner with just three successes from 35 starts, the son of Reset is as honest as they come and at the very least, can further build upon the impressive strike rate he already boasts.

Banca Mo also comes out of the Tattersall’s Cup where he ran fourth.

The Tough Speed gelding finished 1.3 lengths behind Shoreham on that occasion.

It was a grinding effort but now meets Shoreham 1kg better at the weights.

These above mentioned handful of gallopers are the Grafton Cup runners who can boast being both the class and form stayers of Thursday’s feature event.

Kapour spearheads this handful with Bonfire in hot pursuit and don’t be surprised to see these pair fighting out the finish together.