Emma Pritchard

Following his impressive victory in the 2022 Grafton Cup, imported galloper Arapaho (FR) has become the first horse in over 20 years to win the premier staying event of the annual July Racing Carnival and progress through the ranks to record a tenacious win at the highest level.

Lining up against a quality field of stayers including the 2019 and 2022 Melbourne Cup winners Vow And Declare and Gold Trip (FR) in the Group 1 Kia Tancred Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on March 25, the French bred son of Lope De Vega (IRE) settled in the first half of the field during the early stages of the 2400m event before jockey Rachel King pressed the go button in the home straight and let the six-year-old gelding stride clear to win by a long neck on the line from a gallant Montefilia and King Frankel (IRE).

In securing his maiden win at elite level on the weekend, Arapaho (FR) became the first galloper since Praise Indeed in 1998 to win the Grafton Cup prior to winning a Group 1 event.

Praise Indeed won the Grafton Cup in 1996 and two years later, won the Group 1 Brisbane Cup.

While Kensei (NZ) is undisputedly the most famous Grafton Cup winner who went on to achieve Group 1 success in the 1987 Melbourne Cup, other horses including Cross Swords who won the Grafton Cup in 1992 and the Group 1 Sydney Cup in 1994, and Oppressor who took out the Grafton Cup in 1994 prior to winning the Group 1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield en route to defending his Grafton Cup title in 1995, have also enjoyed success at the highest level.

As he celebrated the Group 1 win of Arapaho (FR), Clarence River Jockey Club (CRJC) Chief Executive Officer Michael Beattie said the Grafton Cup has “always been a race which attracts quality horses on the way up”, and although he concedes it is still unlikely the Grafton Cup’s current status as a Listed event will be upgraded after it was previously run as a Group 3 event, he remains confident the recent success of last year’s winner will see another high class field of stayers line up for the race in 2023.

And while it is likely Arapaho (FR) will not be among them given his benchmark rating which would see him allocated a topweight of 62kg in the feature event, Mr Beattie said it is possible that his Sydney based trainer Bjorn Baker will target the 2023 Grafton Cup with a horse he hopes will be his next Arapaho (FR).