The flying Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Caloundra Cup winner Supply And Demand headlines the Grafton Cup 2017 nominations taken by the Clarence River Jockey Club for next week’s feature.

Caloundra Cup winner Supply And Demand (pictured at Rosehill) headlines the 2017 Grafton Cup nominations this winter. Photo: Steve Hart.

Running on Thursday as the feature event of the two-day Grafton Cup Carnival, this season’s $160,000 Listed Grafton Cup (2350m) attracted 25 stayers including smart Sebring four-year-old Supply And Demand.

The up-and-comer has won his past three starts on the trot including the Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) in his first mile and a half start at the Sunshine Coast on July 1.

Set to back-up in the Grafton Cup, Supply And Demand rises 55.5kg to 58.5kg and will need to be improving to handle the extra kilos and continue his winter winning streak.

Heading this year’s Grafton Cup weights with 60kg meanwhile is Joe Pride’s rising nine-year-old Destiny’s Kiss.

The veteran Power Of Destiny gelding contested the 2013 Grafton Cup finishing two lengths back fifth behind Mr O’Ceirin, but hasn’t been back to the track since.

Winner of January’s Listed Australia Day Stakes (2400m) over the distance at Randwick with 59.5kg on his back, Destiny’s Kiss was last seen carting a massive 61kg to a brave third at Rosehill on July 1 behind Gallic Chieftain in the Listed Winter Cup (2400m).

The best out of the Winter Cup nominated for a back-up in the Grafton Cup field this season is the Chris Waller-trained runner-up Montauk.

A progressive four-year-old son of More Than Ready, Montauk was under a length beaten home in the Winter Cup carrying 54kg and he’ll relish getting in on that same minimum weight in the Grafton Cup.

Waller has also nominated for his Winter Cup fourth placed Dutch Art gelding Soviet Courage, the European import chasing his first win since success over the 2400m at Rosehill in November last year.

Four mares are nominated for a possible Grafton Cup start this winter including the in-form Kelvin Hickmott-trained War Baby from Beaudesert.

A veteran of 62 starts, she surprised two back at Doomben running a close third behind Rudy in the Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup (2200m) before finishing third again in the Caloundra Cup last time out just two lengths off Supply And Demand.

War Baby will get the weight advantage over her last start rival should both run in a rematch next Thursday allocated just 54kg once again.

The other mare guaranteed a start in the 16-horse Grafton Cup 2017 field is the Kris Lees-trained Rustic Melody, the five-year-old daughter of Snitzel last seen winning over 1900m at Rosehill at the start of the month.

She carried 58.5kg to a narrow win with Hugh Bowman aboard and will come back 4.5kg in the Grafton Cup having just her second start over the increased distance.

Other standout Grafton Cup nominees include last year’s Brisbane Cup winning Kiwi Benzini and Chris Munce’s Grafton Cup Prelude winner First Crush out to do the double achieved by Rednav (2016) last season.

Check out the full Grafton Cup 2017 nominations, weights and ballot order below ahead of final acceptances on Monday followed by updated winter racing markets at Ladbrokes.com.au.

2017 Grafton Cup Nominations & Weights

Grafton Racecourse 13/07/2017