An all-the-way win by Supply and Demand gave co-trainer Gai Waterhouse her fourth win in the Listed Grafton Cup yesterday.
He led from the outset and was pressured in the closing stages by second-placed Get On The Grange and second favourite Montauk, but held on to take out the 2350-metre race by a long neck.
It was a special victory for jockey Josh Parr.
"For my grandfather, this was an annual event and I used to try and tag along but it just never worked out," Parr said. "It's really, really special for me to win on this horse."
Giving 4.5 kilograms to most of the field after a win in the Caloundra Cup last start, Supply and Demand ($3.20 favourite) needed "sheer toughness" to get home at Grafton, Parr said.
Stable representative Neil Paine said Waterhouse would be "over the moon" with the victory but heaped praise on co-trainer Adrian Bott.
"Gai's been on the phone every day, but Adrian Bott has been the one putting it through its paces and what a credit to him."
The A$90,000 victory takes Supply and Demand's prize-money past A$500,000 and his record to seven wins from 17 starts.
Get On The Grange finished a length and a quarter ahead of Montauk while Feltre, another two lengths back, was best of the rest. Kiwi galloper Benzini finished 10th.
