Castletown Stud foal graduate Sixties Groove (7g Sixties Icon – Gift Dancer, by Imperial Dancer) produced an impressive weight-carrying performance to win Wednesday’s Listed Grafton Cup worth $200,000.
The winner of last year’s Brisbane Cup was tasked with carrying top weight of 61kg for the contest run over 2350 metres. Jason Collett gave the Kris Lees-trained bay a patient ride, racing second last for much of the way, and waited until the straight to challenge. Sweeping wide, he ran home strongly to deny The Lord Mayor by a quarter of a length on the line.
Sixties Groove set a new record on the day, with no previous Grafton Cup winner having carrier more than 58.5kg. Lees was impressed by the winner’s performance and commented, “It was a great ride. It was just that will to win, to get out in the clear and then charge to the line. I thought we were going to run a nice second or third, but he just put the head down.”
Lees added that Sixties Groove would enjoy a break and return to target toe Group 3 $200,000 Newcastle Gold Cup in September, or the Group 1 $750,000 Metropolitan.
Sixties Groove was sold by Castletown Stud on behalf of breeder Minch Bloodstock at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale to Ballyhane Stud.