Grafton Cup
Looking for this year’s Grafton Cup betting odds, field and race tips? The experts at Neds have put together everything you need to know before this year’s race.
Run over 2,350 metres, the Grafton Cup is a time-honoured Listed race taking place at Grafton Racecourse since 1910.
With a $200,000 prize purse, it is one of the key features on the Winter Cups circuit and the pride of the Clarence River Jockey Club. The race briefly held Group 3 status from 1995 – 2005, but after a decade it was demoted back to a Listed event.
Held on a Thursday in early to mid July the Grafton Cup is also one of two Black-Type races held over the two-day Grafton Cup Carnival that gets underway on the Wednesday with racing headlined by the Listed Ramornie Handicap (1200m).
Winning this race makes horses exempt from the ballot in the Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup held in September.
Many very good horses have come out of the Grafton Cup throughout the race’s history including subsequent Melbourne Cup hero Kensei (1987).
There are a host of lead-up races offering a ballot exemption into the Grafton Cup field including Queensland’s Caloundra Cup and Zoumon (2023) was the last galloper to do the interstate Caloundra – Grafton Cups double.
Grafton Cup 2024 – Quick Information
- Race Day: Thursday, July 18th, 2024
- Track Location: Grafton Racecourse
- Track Surface: Turf
- Track Direction: Right-handed
- Race Distance: 2,350 metres
- Weight Conditions: Quality handicap
- Qualification: Three year olds and over
- Type: Thoroughbred
- Grade: Listed
- Operator: Clarence River Jockey Club
- Prize Purse: $200,000
- 2024 Grafton Cup Winner: TBD
grafton cup 2024 RESULTS
The official 2024 Grafton Cup results will be available below once the race takes place on Thursday, July 18th, 2024.
- TBD
- TBD
- TBD
Grafton Cup Betting 2024
There are many different ways to bet on the Grafton Cup, and we have included some of the most popular options below:
| Bet Type | How To Place This Type Of Bet In This Year’s Grafton Cup |
|---|---|
| Win Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s Grafton Cup. |
| Place Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers at this year’s Grafton Cup. Pays less than a win bet, but offers safer odds. |
| Each-Way Bet | If your runner finishes 1st in the Grafton Cup, you will collect both the Win and the Place dividend. If your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd you will collect the Place dividend. |
| Quinella Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in any order, within the Grafton Cup, in order to win the Quinella. |
| Exacta Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in the correct order, within the Grafton Cup to win the Exacta. |
| Trifecta Bet | You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within the Grafton Cup to win the Trifecta. |
| First Four | You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd ,3rd and 4th in the correct order, within the Grafton Cup to win the First 4. |
| Quadrella Bet (Quaddie) | You must select the winners of four nominated races to win the Quaddie. This means you would have to select three other races apart from the Grafton Cup, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie. |
How To Bet On The Grafton Cup in 2024
- Login at neds.com.au
- Make sure to check out form guide, once it’s released
- Decide what kind of bet you’re going to place (Win, Place, Each-Way, Trifecta + more betting options, please read our section on Grafton Cup Betting above).
- Select the horse(s) for the race.
Grafton Cup 2024 Odds
Early market betting odds on the 2024 Grafton Cup will be displayed below once available. Odds are subject to fluctuation. For current odds on all of our live markets, please visit neds.com.au.
Which Horse Will Win The Grafton Cup in 2024
The best way to pick which horse will win the Grafton Cup in 2024 is to take into account their lead-up winter racing form, assess the barriers and look at the weights.
Additional factors to consider when picking the Grafton Cup winner include:
- Proven Stayers – Look for stayers that have a proven ability over a mile and a half.
- Handicap Helper – Look for any horses that get weight relief from the handicap.
- Waterhouse Factor – Gai Waterhouse holds the modern-day training record in the Grafton Cup with five winners since 2006 with Rocking On, Queenstown, Bonfire, Supply And Demand, and most recently Zoumon in 2023.
Grafton Cup Favourites 2024
Favourites in Grafton Cup 2024 betting include the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Pride Of Dubai mare Deny Knowledge, Annabel Neasham’s veteran nine-year-old Spirit Ridge, the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained McKell Cup runner-up Touristic, and Luncies for Kris Lees.
Sixties Groove ($3.50 in 2020) followed by Purrfect Deal ($3.40 in 2021) and Zoumon ($2.50 in 2023) are the latest Grafton Cup favourites to salute for the punters.
Grafton Cup Field 2024
The official Grafton Cup 2024 field of final acceptances is released on the Monday of race week and will be published in full below.
Grafton Cup Tips 2024
Favourite: #3 Deny Knowledge ($3.40 at time of publish) – BET NOW
Best Bet: #7 Touristic ($5.50 at time of publish) – BET NOW
Best Roughie: #9 Brookhaven ($13 at time of publish) – BET NOW
Our exclusive 2024 Grafton Cup tips will be detailed above the week of the race and a full betting preview available on the Neds Blog.
CLICK HERE FOR OUR COMPLETE 2024 GRAFTON CUP DAY PREVIEW & TIPS
Grafton Cup Race Day 2024
2024 Grafton Cup Day takes place on Thursday, the 18th of July 2024 as part of the two-day Grafton Cup Carnival.
Grafton Cup Barrier Draw 2024
The 2024 Grafton Cup barrier draw will be released to the public a few days before the race and published in our above Grafton Cup Field section.
Grafton Cup Nominations 2024
2024 Grafton Cup nominations close at 11:00 AM on Thursday, the 11th of July, 2024.
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | True Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 702×920631 | FULL PRESS | G | 6 | Brett Dodson | 1 | 54kg | 54kg | 68 | |
| 2 | 33220×4177 | SPIRIT RIDGE (GB) | G | 9 | Annabel Neasham | 2 | 60.5kg | 60.5kg | 105 | |
| 3 | x6008x0621 | ALEGRON | G | 5 | Bjorn Baker | 3 | 60kg | 60kg | 104 | |
| 4 | 984024×550 | LUNCIES (GB) | G | 7 | Kris Lees | 4 | 59.5kg | 59.5kg | 103 | |
| 5 | 1x02940x08 | ZOUMON | G | 5 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 5 | 59kg | 59kg | 102 | |
| 6 | 6417×03402 | DENY KNOWLEDGE (IRE) | M | 6 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 6= | 56.5kg | 56.5kg | 101 | |
| 7 | 52×5821663 | THALASSOPHILE | M | 5 | Chris Waller | 6= | 56.5kg | 56.5kg | 101 | |
| 8 | 4×67441557 | BONNY EZRA (NZ) | G | 8 | Chris Waller | 8 | 54kg | 54kg | 89 | |
| 9 | 235287×689 | TORRENS | H | 7 | Marc Chevalier | 9= | 54kg | 54kg | 88 | |
| 10 | x42420x012 | TOURISTIC (GB) | G | 5 | Peter & Paul Snowden | 9= | 54kg | 54kg | 88 | |
| 11 | 119x28x4x8 | POINT KING (IRE) | G | 5 | Kris Lees | 11= | 54kg | 54kg | 87 | |
| 12 | 21×7511071 | SPEYCASTER (GB) | G | 5 | Chris Waller | 11= | 54kg | 54kg | 87 | |
| 13 | 12x673x728 | DANISH FORTUNE | G | 6 | Darren McLeod | 13 | 54kg | 54kg | 85 | |
| 14 | 4×01737251 | BROOKHAVEN | G | 4 | Chris Munce | 14= | 54kg | 54kg | 84 | |
| 15 | 6212×46407 | EAGLEMONT (IRE) | G | 7 | Matthew Dunn | 14= | 54kg | 54kg | 84 | |
| 16 | 7580986×06 | PORT PHILIP (IRE) | G | 6 | Marcus Wilson | 14= | 54kg | 54kg | 84 | |
| 17 | x00x013830 | DOUBLE CHERRY (IRE) | G | 5 | Annabel Neasham | 17 | 54kg | 54kg | 83 | |
| 18 | 231×422435 | AWESOME WONDER (IRE) | M | 5 | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | 18= | 54kg | 54kg | 73 | |
| 19 | 635×607318 | HOLSTEIN | G | 5 | Matthew Dunn | 18= | 54kg | 54kg | 73 | |
| 20 | 8×06114142 | MINDSPACE | G | 4 | Sally Taylor | 20 | 54kg | 54kg | 59 | |
| 21 | x322130973 | GULF OF TOMINI | G | 5 | Kristen Buchanan | 21 | 54kg | 54kg | 58 | |
| 22 | 8806422039 | NATURE BOY (NZ) | G | 7 | Lea Selby | 22 | 54kg | 54kg | 49 | |
| 23 | x956007057 | SIR ZINO (NZ) | G | 4 | Vanessa McLennan | 23 | 54kg | 54kg | 42 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Grafton Cup Weights 2024
Quality handicap conditions apply to this race. Minimum weight is 54 kilograms. Maximum weight is 62 kilograms. Final 2024 Grafton Cup weights will be announced by 4:00 PM on Friday, the 12th of July, 2024.
In 2020 Sixties Groove set a modern-day weight carrying record in the Grafton Cup carting 61kg to victory.
2024 Grafton Cup Top-Weight:
- #1 Spirit Ridge (60.5kg)
Grafton Cup Acceptances 2024
2024 Grafton Cup final acceptances must be declared before 9:00 AM on Monday, the 15th of July, 2024 and published in our above Grafton Cup Field section.
Grafton Cup Jockeys 2024
The final riders announcement is at 12:00 PM on Monday, the 15th of July, 2024 with the official 2024 Grafton Cup jockeys to be published in our above Grafton Cup Field section.
Grafton Cup Scratchings 2024
2024 Grafton Cup scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Thursday, the 18th of July, 2024.
- #8 Point King
Grafton Cup Prize Money 2024
The 2024 Grafton Cup prize purse is worth $200,000 in total, distributed from places first through tenth.
| Place | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 1st | $109,350 |
| 2nd | $36,750 |
| 3rd | $17,750 |
| 4th | $8,900 |
| 5th | $5,250 |
| 6th | $4,000 |
| 7th | $3,500 |
| 8th | $3,500 |
| 9th | $3,500 |
| 10th | $3,500 |
Grafton Cup Race Number 2024
The 2024 Grafton Cup race number is scheduled as Grafton Race 7 at 4:05pm (AEST) on Thursday the 18th of July, 2024. There are eight races in total that day at Grafton Racecourse.
Grafton Cup Form Guide 2024
The final form guide will be available the week of the race. You can check below for a link to our full 2024 Grafton Cup Form Guide following final acceptances.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2024 GRAFTON CUP FORM GUIDE
Grafton Cup Live 2024
You can watch or listen to the 2024 Grafton Cup live, across the following mediums.
Pay television: Sky Racing 1 (channel 526 on Foxtel)
Radio: Radio Sport National
Streaming: Racing NSW
Grafton Cup Winners
Winners of the Grafton Cup going back to 2000 are displayed in the table below.
There has been five multiple Grafton Cup winners throughout history with Longwy (1919-20), triple champion Hosier (1922-1924), Home James (1963-64), Jardel (1974-75), and most recently Oppressor (1994-95).
| Year | Winner | Trainer/s | Jockey | Weight | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2023 | Zoumon | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Rachel King | 58.5 kgs | 2:25.66 |
| 2022 | Arapaho | Bjorn Baker | Rachel King | 54 kgs | 2:25.89 |
| 2021 | Purrfect Deal | Michael Costa | Ben Thompson | 54 kgs | 2:24.44 |
| 2020 | Sixties Groove | Kris Lees | Jason Collett | 61 kgs | 2:25.98 |
| 2019 | Sacred Day | Tony Pike | Ben Looker | 55.5 kgs | 2:23.88 |
| 2018 | First Crush | Chris Munce | Mark Du Plessis | 55.5 kgs | 2:23.88 |
| 2017 | Supply And Demand | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Joshua Parr | 58.5 kgs | 2:23.33 |
| 2016 | Rednav | Sally Taylor | Peter Graham | 54 kgs | 2:24.44 |
| 2015 | Bonfire | Gai Waterhouse | Blake Shinn | 59 kgs | 2:22.59 |
| 2014 | Queenstown | Gai Waterhouse | Tim Clark | 54 kgs | 2:24.10 |
| 2013 | Mr O’ceirin | Ciaron Maher | Blake Shinn | 56 kgs | 2:26.16 |
| 2012 | Shamardashing | John Thompson | Jeff Lloyd | 57.5 kgs | 2:25.30 |
| 2011 | Warrior Within | Bruce Hill | Paul Hammersley | 53 kgs | 2:23.56 |
| 2010 | Twin Wing | Guy Walter | Jay Ford | 57.5 kgs | 2:23.98 |
| 2009 | Castle Heights | Donna Logan | Stathi Katsidis | 53 kgs | 2:24.98 |
| 2008 | Art Success | John Collins | Jeff Lloyd | 58 kgs | 2:22.92 |
| 2007 | Ashraf | Stuart Phegan | Dale Spriggs | 53 kgs | 2:22.91 |
| 2006 | Rocking On | Gai Waterhouse | James Innes | 53 kgs | 2:26.41 |
| 2005 | Stormhill | Tim Martin | Chris Munce | 52 kgs | 2:25.50 |
| 2004 | Pacific Dancer | Shaun Dwyer | Michael Rodd | 53.5 kgs | 2:26.48 |
| 2003 | Belus | Robert Smerdon | Mark Zahra | 54 kgs | 2:27.20 |
| 2002 | Master Pom | Stephen Quintano | Nathan Cumberland | 53 kgs | 2:26.86 |
| 2001 | Desk Top Lover | Bill Mitchell | Michael Cahill | 53 kgs | 2:27.78 |
| 2000 | Simigan | Brian Smith | Allan Robinson | 52.5 kgs | 2:26.21 |