Australia: Zoumon will use his speed in Grafton Cup marathon

Zoumon has found his niche in marathon cup races in Australia in the last month.

Wins in the McKell Cup at 1 1/4 miles at Rosehill Gardens on June 17 and the Caloundra Cup at 1 1/2 miles at Sunshine Coast on July 1 have made Zoumon the favorite to record a third consecutive victory in the $133,000 Grafton Cup at 1 1/2 miles at Grafton Racecourse on Wednesday evening.

Zoumon will be favored in a field of 13 and is expected to take his customary position at the front of the field, a tactic that has worked in his last two starts.

Trained by Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse, the 4-year-old Zoumon is in career-best form. He was tried in marathon stakes earlier in his career, but was not successful, losing his first five appearances in stakes. Zoumon was fourth in the Group 1 ATC Derby at 1 1/2 miles in April 2022 as a longshot.

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In the Grafton Cup, Zoumon will be closely followed by Spirit Ridge and Benaud, two other well-regarded runners.

Spirit Ridge, who has set the pace at times in recent starts, was second in the Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup at 1 1/2 miles at Eagle Farm on June 24. Spirit Ridge held an early lead and was beaten 2 1/4 lengths by Luncies, who was later eighth in the Caloundra Cup. Spirit Ridge is winless in six starts since a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne in January.

Benaud won for the second time in his 20th start in a handicap at 1 5/16 miles at Wyong on July 4, racing near the front throughout. He could be a danger if Zoumon faces pressure on the lead.

Benaud was eighth in the McKell Cup. This is his first start at 1 1/2 miles since a fifth-place finish in the Mornington Cup in April.

Grafton has an eight-race program beginning at 10:20 p.m. Eastern or 7:20 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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