Emma Pritchard

Progressive mare Crowned Empress recorded a dominant win in the 2022 XXXX Jacaranda Cup over 1115m, the feature event on the program at the Clarence River Jockey Club’s (CRJC) November 2 race meeting.

After a last start seventh behind smart galloper Exclusive in the 2022 Jacaranda Cup Prelude two weeks ago, the five-year-old daughter of Group 1 winner Hallowed Crown was friendless in the betting at 13/1 but won with the ease and tenacity of a short-priced favourite, defeating Swamp Nation by just under a length. Star Of Harada finished third.

Trained in Port Macquarie by esteemed horseman John Sprague, Crowned Empress advanced her race record to five wins and four minor placings from 25 starts and took her prizemoney over $100,000.

Following the race, Sprague said he was extremely pleased by the performance of Crowned Empress, adding it was great to see her return to form.

After an unsuccessful Queensland campaign which saw the mare briefly transferred to the Kelly Schweida stable, Crowned Empress was unplaced in a Doomben trial before returning to Sprague last month.

After acknowledging the CRJC for hosting the race meeting, Sprague also thanked the mare’s owners for persevering with her, and said he was very happy to win a feature event at Grafton Racecourse.

Winning jockey Jason Taylor revealed the mare jumped cleanly from an inside draw and travelled well throughout the race before powering down the outside of the field in the home straight to take the lead inside the final 150m and land the prize.

“She deserved the win, it was a good run,” he said.

Despite showers drifting across Grafton just 24 hours prior to the race meeting last week, the course proper was rated a Good 4, with jockey Ben Looker praising the efforts of Track Manager Drew Cookson and his team after riding 30/1 shot Eastowin to victory in Race 1, the Mark Bloomer Transport CG&E Maiden Plate over 1115m for local trainer Cathy Chapman.

“The track is in great nick,” he said, adding the team deserved “a pat on the back” for their efforts after Grafton saw an increased amount of racing in 2022 following the abandonment of several race meetings throughout the Northern Rivers region due to inclement weather and rain sodden tracks.

The 2022 Jacaranda Royal Party were also trackside during the race meeting and spent time speaking with CRJC dignitaries and local racegoers as they flicked through the form guide.    

The CRJC will host their next race meeting on November 18.