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The Grafton Cup is a Listed race held annually at Grafton Racecourse in NSW. Held in the winter around mid-July, the Grafton Cup is run by the Clarence River Jockey Club (CRJC).

2025 Grafton Cup Results

• 1st: #9 Don Diego De Vega ($4.60EF)
• 2nd: #7 Quietness
• 3rd: #8 Zoology

Don Diego De Vega ($4.60EF) delivered a breakout performance in the 2025 Grafton Cup results, winning the $200,000 Listed feature in dramatic fashion on Thursday.

The French import, trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, had shown promise in his lead-up runs, including a last start Caloundra Cup fourth, improving to win just the second time in Australia.

Sent out as an equal favourite, he settled beautifully behind the leader Quietness under jockey Zac Lloyd, who had to quickly adapt his tactics after the late scratching of fellow speed influence Bear On The Loose. As the field turned for home, Quietness veered off the rail under pressure, opening a golden gap for Don Diego De Vega to surge through and claim victory by three-quarters of a length, with Zoology finishing third.

The win marked Lloyd’s first Grafton Cup triumph and gave the Archibalds their maiden success in the race. Importantly, the victory also put Don Diego De Vega in the frame for both the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup, setting him on a path toward Australia’s most prestigious staying contests this spring.

Conducted over 2350m, the Grafton Cup attracts a quality line-up of winter stayers and offers a total of $200,000 in prize money. The headline event of the two-day Grafton Cup Carnival, the black-type takes place on a Thursday and follows the Listed Ramornie Handicap (1200m) for the sprinters at the Grafton track on the Wednesday.

The 2022 Grafton Cup form was franked with the winner Arapaho going on to perform well in a host of subsequent Black-Type races including his Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) win at Rosehill in March of 2023.

In 2023 the Grafton Cup winner Zoumon went on to run second in the spring’s $2 million Five Diamonds race in Sydney. The form was further franked with that year’s Grafton Cup third place-getter, Spirit Ridge, continuing on to place in a host of other feature races including a second in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m).

The 2024 Grafton Cup winner, Deny Knowledge, franked the form going on to win the Group 1 Might And Power (2000m) at Caulfield that spring.

The 2025 Grafton Cup ran on Thursday, July 17, 2025 as a potential early lead-up to the spring staying races in Sydney and was won in style by the Annabel & Rob Archibald trained equal favourite Don Diego De Vega ($4.60EF). 

2025 Grafton Cup Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2025 Grafton Cup Betting

The winter’s latest Grafton Cup 2025 betting odds and market links to Ladbrokes.com.au will be available here at Races.com.au leading up to the race.

Sixties Groove ($3.50 in 2020), Purrfect Deal ($3.40 in 2021), that year’s Caloundra Cup winner Zoumon ($2.50 in 2023), Deny Knowledge ($2.45 in 2024), and equal top fancy Don Diego De Vega ($4.60EF in 2025) are the latest favourites in Grafton Cup betting to salute for the punters.

2025 Grafton Cup Form

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2025 GRAFTON CUP FORM GUIDE

2025 Grafton Cup Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Grafton Cup 2025 Tips on the popular winter feature this July.

• To Win: #7 Quietness ($4.80 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Like the lead-up form of QUIETNESS (9) who looks ready to strike fit now third-up off two good lead-up placings ahead of Thursday’s Grafton Cup. The John O’Shea & Tom Charlton trained Bated Breath mare resumed with a third behind Loch Eagle over the Randwick mile in early June before improving second-up to run second to Miss Joelene in at Listed level at Eagle Farm only a length off carrying 56kg. She comes back to 55kg for this tougher assignment facing a nice field, but she’s a nice type. Will relish this distance now boasting a two-from-two record over these metres. Drawn just worse than midfield with Andrew Adkins coming aboard for the ride. Was on speed and brave last start. Improves off that and can win.

2025 Grafton Cup Field

The Grafton Cup field features plenty of graduates out of the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival events including the Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) held a fortnight prior at the Sunshine Coast with Arapaho (2nd in 2022), Zoumon (1st in 2023) and Don Diego De Vega (4th in 2025) the latest Grafton Cup winners to come via the Caloundra Cup.

The other key lead-up race into the Grafton Cup field each winter is the Grafton Cup Prelude (2215m) conducted just a week before the Listed event. Rednav (2016) followed by Purrfect Deal (2021) are the latest gallopers to complete the Grafton Cup Prelude – Grafton Cup racing double.

Rosehill’s Listed W J McKell Cup (2000m) also serves as a nice form race into the Grafton Cup field each winter with Zoumon (2023) the latest to do the double.

The official Grafton Cup 2025 Final Field & Barriers are set for release on the Monday of race week and will be published in full below.

The 2025 Grafton Cup field features a smart line-up of winter stayers led in betting by Matthew Dunn’s topweight Belvedere Boys racing third-up off a second in the McKell Cup at Rosehill last time out.

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2025 Grafton Cup Nominations

The Grafton Cup 2025 Nominations close the Thursday prior to the race, along with those for the Ramornie Handicap.

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

Grafton Cup History

The Grafton Cup has long been an important part of NSW country racing. Since its inception, regional trainers have placed major emphasis on the race as one of the better staying events held outside of metropolitan areas.

The Grafton Cup is held on the second Thursday of every July, a tradition that grants the CRJC a day with no competing black type events. The Wednesday prior to the Grafton Cup also boasts racing, forming a two-day racing festival which is quite popular in the area. A half-holiday is granted throughout the shire on Grafton Cup Day.

Notable Grafton Cup winners include Deny Knowledge (2024), Mr O’Ceirin (2013), Twin Wing (2010) and Pacific Dancer (2004).

In 2020 Sixties Groove made Grafton Cup history carrying a record 61kg to victory.

Grafton Cup Results

The Grafton Cup winners and results since 2000 are listed below.

This page and the written content within it were partially generated using AI or automated technology and edited and verified by our editorial team.