South Cup rising to top in July

By Tim Howard

The South Grafton Cup has risen to challenge the Grafton Cup and Ramornie Hcp as the leading races at the Grafton July Racing Carnival says CRJC executive officer Michael Beattie.

Beattie said the numbers showed that since the race became a qualifying event for the Big Dance, South Cup Day was now a legitimate third big day for the carnival.

He said the South Grafton Cup winner, Cepheus, came to the carnival with a benchmark rating of 106 points, while the Grafton Cup winner was rated 105.

“It means the highest benchmark rated horse that race at the carnival, would show, from a technical perspective, that the South Grafton Cup has become the strongest race,” he said.

Beattie described the change as “very positive” and indicated the carnival was developing away from a two big day event to a carnival with three main days.

He was also excited at the number of big metropolitan stables sending teams to the carnival.

“You’ve got the likes of Chris Waller, Peter and Paul Snowden, Chris Lees, Chris Munce, Annabelle Neesham,” he said.

“You’ve got this depth right through the carnival when these people are supporting its major events.”

Beattie said from a racing purist’s perspective the Grafon Cup winning ride of Blake Shinn on Deny Knowledge turned a good race into a great one.

“It was a sensation race and made better by one of the best tactical rides you’ll ever see to win a Grafton Cup,” Beattie said.

“I suppose the best jockey in the race was on the best horse in the race, but he gave the best ride in the race.

“By the time the race got to the 1200m it was the end of the penny section, because he had outmanoeuvred them all.”

Beattie said the result in Ramornie was also a pleasing outcome that could have been unfortunate.

“He suffered severe interference mid-race, Ka Bling, and if he had been beaten, would have had a real hard luck story,” he said.

“He was able overcome that interference and still pick them up and beat them, so it was one of those situations you love to see.

“In fact I think it was great that all three winners in the Grafton Cup, Ramornie and South Cup were the best horses in the race on the day.”

Beattie said that away from the racing the carnival was a highly successful social occasion with good crowds enjoying a friendly atmosphere.

He said the development of Grafton Cup Day’s Fashions on the Field into a signature event attracting people in its own right was the result of careful planning.

He said the South Cup and Grafton Cup days once shared fashion events, but a decision to focus on Grafton Cup Day as the fashion day was working.

“A few years ago we asked our customers, especially female customers, and they indicated to us that that situation wasn’t suitable to them,” Beattie said.

“Their view was the biggest fashion day should be Grafton Cup Day and I think it’s telling that it’s getting bigger and better from a participation perspective.”
Beattie said it was too early to say turnover the five days of racing generated, but the raw figures suggested not a lot of difference from last year.

“In this economic climate, to be holding your own, is a situation not a lot of racing clubs would emulate,” he said.

He said the club would not be sitting on its laurels and there would be a debrief and assessment of what worked and what needed to improved.

“Overall I would say what we planned and put in place seemed to work,” he said.

“But you always have to try and make things a little bit better each year.

“We’ve extended the members’ area over the past few years and the popularity of that’s been amazing.

“So when the dust settles we’ll have a bit of a review and see what things we can change for the future.”

For more sports news, click here.