South Grafton Cup day proved to be a wonderful day for the locals with three of the seven winners prepared by Grafton based trainers.
The day started well with the John Shelton trained Fictional Force scoring a final stride victory in the Class1 2220m.
Ridden by Ben Looker Fictional Force travelled in third just off the pace throughout the event before easing into the clear on straightening and having a two horse battle all the way to the line with another Grafton trained runner in Devine Profit.
In a finish that had many regular Grafton racegoers tricked Fictional Force finally got the judges nod.
Earlier in his career Fictional Force had struggled to be competitive at the shorter courses but has really found his mojo since getting out in trip.
Shelton didn’t have to wait long before he was back in the winners enclosure in race 2 of the day when Sinfull scored a narrow victory in the Maiden 1006m.
Sinfull had to overcome an outside gate but showed plenty of speed to race outside the leader in the run.
Once in the straight Sinfull like the first winner was in a two horse dual all the way to the line and eventually got the decision in another extremely close photo.
Both of the Shelton winners are in their first preparation for the stable and are showing plenty of upside.
It took to the final race of the day for Grafton to come up with win number three when He’s A Copy Boy scored a very impressive win in the BM 66 1610m.
Trained by Sam McGuren and ridden by stable apprentice Grace Palmer He’s A Copy Boy settled well back in the field before sliding forward mid race when the pace dropped out of the race.
Palmer got going early coming to the turn and although a little wayward in the straight He’s A Copy Boy kept going all the way to the post to win with some authority.
In a strange twist it is fair to say this race was put on for He’s A Copy Boy with the gelding winning the same race in 2025 after running a close second in 2024. I wonder what 2027 will bring.
