By Bren O'Brien
A brilliant ride from Jason Collett has delivered trainer Kris Lees his first ever victory in the Listed Grafton Cup, with Sixties Groove (Ire) (Sixties Icon {GB}) surging home over his rivals to claim the $200,000 feature event of the Grafton carnival.
The Australian Bloodstock-owned import, a winner of the G2 Brisbane Cup last year, had to set a weight record held since 1934 if he was going to win the 2350 metre event, and with 600 metres to go, his task with 61kg, looked a forlorn one, with most of the field ahead of he and Collett.
But the experienced jockey sliced his way into the clear and presented the 7-year-old down the outside at the right time, and Sixties Groove did the rest, beating the Chris Waller-trained pair The Lord Mayor (NZ) (Rock 'N' Pop) and Carzoff (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}).
"What a ride, it’s one of the best rides you will see," stable representative Lucas Miller said. "He had a lot to do coming to the turn and when he elected to go back inside, there was a fair ruck there, but that's why you put the good jockeys on to get those results."
It was Sixties Groove's first win since his Brisbane Cup success in June last year, having come through a tendon injury which saw him have just four runs in that time.
"He had some issues after that win in Brisbane and the team has done very well to get him back to the races in that order. The track like that today was probably a bit firm for him and so that sort of performance is pretty incredible and it's good for the owners who have been patient in him," Miller said.
"He had some issues after that win in Brisbane and the team has done very well to get him back to the races in that order." - Lucas Miller
Had the Brisbane Cup not been called off, then it was likely that Sixties Groove wouldn't have contested this race, but Miller said it was a reward for good alternative planning.
"Through this pandemic, it’s been hard. But these horses wouldn't have come here without that. It’s been good to get these horses here and get a Grafton Cup for the stable," he said.
Purchased as a tried horse out of stables of Jeremy Noseda, Sixties Groove has won five of his 17 starts in Australia.
Sixties Groove (Ire)
He is the first foal from unraced Gift Dancer (GB) (Imperial Dancer {GB}), who is a half-sister to Irish 1000 Guineas winner Samitar (GB) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}).
Their second dam is also the granddam of Group 2 winner Shaweel (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and Listed winner Orvar (GB) (Dandy Man {Ire}) with European champion Golden Opinion (USA) (Slew O’ Gold {USA}) under their third dam.
Gift Dancer’s other winner from three to race is the 4-year-old Smiling Eliza (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), a five-time winner.
The Australian Bloodstock colours celebrated a double on the day with import Yulong Base (USA) (Scat Daddy {USA}) getting his first win for his new connections since being purchased for $50,000 out of the Inglis Digital Sale in February.
Trained by Cody Morgan, and ridden by Andrew Gibbons, Yulong Base, who was formerly trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, won the $45,000 Maiden Showcase over 1200 metres at start number five.
Earlier, the $45,000 2YO Showcase Plate was taken out by Freya's Cloak (The Factor {USA}) for trainer Stephen Lee and jockey Jon Grisedale.
