Grafton Cup 2003 Results
Tooheys New Grafton Cup $178,000 Group III 2400m Apprentices Cannot Claim Handicap 53.0kg. $4.00 fav BELUS (gr g 5y Bletcharm - Swalk. Trainer: R W Smerdon) 54 (M Zahra) 1, $8.00 MAJESTICALLY 57 (R Thompson) 2, $31.00 LEGERDEMAIN 53 carr 53.5 (Z Purton)
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FP | | Name | | Mgn | | Br | | Wgt | | Jockey | | Trainer | |
1 | | Belus | | .8 | | 9 | | 54.0 | | M Zahra | | R W SMERDON at BALLARAT | |
2 | | Majestically (NZ) | | .8 | | 1 | | 57.0 | | R Thompson | | J DENHAM at ROSEHILL | |
3 | | Legerdemain | | .4 | | 6 | | 53.5 | | Z Purton | | MS A WILLICK at TAREE | |
4 | | Romeo George (NZ) | | 3.1 | | 5 | | 53.0 | | M Rodd | | P M PERRY at BROADMEADOW | |
5 | | Silent Impact (NZ) | | 3.8 | | 11 | | 56.0 | | M Paget | | S J HODGE at BROADMEADOW | |
6 | | Johnny Reb | | 4.1 | | 15 | | 55.0 | | J Bowman | | T R MARTIN at ROSEHILL | |
7 | | Raw Instinct (NZ) | | 4.2 | | 12 | | 57.5 | | J Byrne | | B J MCLACHLAN at CALOUNDRA | |
8 | | Pagano (NZ) | | 5.0 | | 13 | | 53.0 | | J L Taylor | | W H WALTERS at HAMILTON | |
9 | | Kugelhopf | | 5.5 | | 4 | | 53.0 | | J P Stanley | | H J NORMAN at GOLD COAST | |
10 | | Legal Brief | | 6.1 | | 14 | | 53.0 | | A Robinson | | MS R COOPER at MOONBI | |
11 | | Garden Scene | | 6.5 | | 3 | | 53.0 | | S Seamer | | E B MURRAY at KEMBLA GRANGE | |
12 | | A Star Affair (NZ) | | 8.7 | | 7 | | 53.0 | | M J Williamson | | S F RITCHIE at ROSEHILL | |
13 | | Via Sinai | | 10.6 | | 16 | | 53.0 | | A G Abrahams | | P B MCLEOD at GRAFTON | |
14 | | Ashsynd | | 10.7 | | 8 | | 53.0 | | A Gibbons | | MS D POIDEVIN-LAINE at KEMBLA GRANGE | |
15 | | Priscilla | | 10.9 | | 2 | | 53.0 | | L Moloney | | D P SMITH at BROADMEADOW | |
16 | | Darcy D'Or | | 11.7 | | 10 | | 53.0 | | G Baker | | R G GOSLING at GRAFTON | |
Starters: 16 Time: 2.27:20 Track: Good Margins: .8 x .4
Handicapper holds key for Belus
The handicapper may hold the key to spring plans for rising staying star Belus after he completed his winter climb to prominence in the $175,000 New Grafton Cup (2400m).
 | Jockey Mark Zahra
& Robert Smerdon
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The five-year-old capped a marvellous interstate campaign for his Victorian trainer Robert Smerdon and jockey Mark Zahra when he added the Grafton Cup to his recent Brisbane success in the Tattersalls Cup at Eagle Farm.
Belus followed his Tattersalls Cup victory with a second in the Caloundra Cup at the Sunshine Coast when he was having his first start over 2400m.
With that experience behind him Belus proved a class above his Grafton Cup rivals, running out an impressive three-quarters of a length winner over the Sydney stayer Majestically.
Smerdon said Belus, who began his racing career in Hong Kong, would now return to Victoria where he would weigh up spring options for the gelding.
"At this stage I would think he could be more the type of horse for the Bendigo and Ballarat Cups but it may all come down to the handicapper," Smerdon said.
"He is a nice stayer in the making but we may be aiming a bit too high talking about Caulfield and Melbourne Cups at this stage.
 | Belus
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"However you never know, we'll just wait and see how things pan out when we get him home."
Smerdon took over the training of Belus 12 months ago after the grey was returned to Australia after a brief career in Hong Kong.
Smerdon revealed that Belus was sold to Hong Kong unraced and was able to win his first start at Sha Tin.
However, he then suffered a tendon injury and was returned to Australia where he spent 12 months in the paddock before resuming his career under Smerdon.
Belus is now owned by Debbie Gordon and her daughter Lauren Ryan, sister of Victorian apprentice Nicholas Ryan.
Lauren Ryan is also the girlfriend of Mark Zahra and their romantic connection has resulted in the young Victorian jockey forming a successful association with Belus.
Smerdon decided to embark on an interstate campaign with Belus after the five-year-old rose quickly through the ranks in Victoria in May and June, capped by a win over 2000m at Flemington.
"There was really nothing for him in Melbourne so we looked interstate and set him for a three-race campaign of the Tattersalls Cup, Caloundra Cup and Grafton Cup," Smerdon said.
 | Grafton Cup Fashions
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