Australia: Slim losses make Space Tracker early favorite for Grafton Cup

Two starts into his Australian career, the Irish-bred gelding Space Tracker seems poised for a win.

A three-time winner in Britain in 2022, Space Tracker was third by a neck in his June 3 debut in Australia and second by slightly more than a length June 17.

Those narrow losses have made Space Tracker the early favorite in the Grafton Cup at a mile at Grafton Racecourse on Saturday evening.

A top-two finish could have long-term ramifications. The first two finishers of the Grafton Cup will qualify for consideration for the Big Dance, a $1.27 million restricted race at a mile at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney in November.

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The Big Dance field is determined by success in qualifying races, such as the Grafton Cup, and handicap ratings.

Space Tracker, trained by Annabel Neashem, is part of a field of 14.

Space Tracker, 2-1 in early betting, will be ridden by Ben Looker, who has the mount for the first time. Jeff Stanley rode Space Tracker in his first two starts in Australia, guiding the 4-year-old into contention from a stalking position.

Cotehele was scratched from the Winter Stakes at Randwick on Friday evening in favor of the Grafton Cup. Cotehele was the 5-2 second choice in early betting in the Grafton Cup for his first start since a fifth-place finish in the listed Civic Stakes at seven furlongs June24 at Randwick.

Cotehele, trained by John O’Shea, closed from well off the pace to win a lucrative handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Rosehill Gardens in May, his only win in four starts this year.

Cepheus is likely to race as a stalker. He finished second by three-quarters of a length in the Glasshouse Handicap at seven furlongs at Sunshine Coast on July 1 and makes a quick turnaround.

Grafton has an eight-race program beginning at 10:15 p.m Eastern or 7:15 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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