Racing: Scattergun ready for Grafton Cup rivals

Top jockey Danny Nikolic is confident tough stayer Scattergun has the recent form on the board to figure prominently in tomorrow's time-honoured Grafton Cup.

Scattergun was today listed as the equal favourite for the $A160,000 Grafton Cup (2350m) with TAB Sportsbet fixed odds, along with Belmonte and Bopalula, at $A4.80.

Nikolic has been on Scattergun at his last three starts as the Brian Smith-trained five-year-old battled strongly against good opposition during the Queensland winter carnival.

Scattergun finished fourth in the group three Premier's Cup (2200m) at Doomben three starts ago and followed that with a seventh of 16 to Viewed in the group two Brisbane Cup (2400m) on heavy going at Eagle Farm on June 9.

Scattergun put his credentials for the Grafton Cup, which was first run in 1910, on the line when he fought on tenaciously when second to Fast Future in the 2400-metre Caloundra Cup on June 28 at the Sunshine Coast.

"Scattergun has been going good against strong rivals and really he deserves a win in a race like the Grafton Cup," Nikolic said.

"When the cards are laid on the table my horse has got as good a formline as anything in this race.

"Last start he was beaten fair and square but still beat the others convincingly.

"Brian Smith tells me the horse looks great and he seems real confident about Scattergun's chances.

"When BJ Smith has a tone of confidence about a horse then you can be sure of a big run." Fledgling trainer Paul Murray is another exuding confidence about his representative in the Grafton Cup, the in-form mare Bopalula.

Bopalula has won three of her past five starts including a strong effort to score by 1-1/2 lengths at Kembla Grange two starts ago over 2400 metres.

She continued her good form when beaten just a nose in the Winter Cup (2400m) at Rosehill on July 5.

Bopalula was in an awkward spot on the rails in eighth position when the field turned for home but when she got clear running the four-year-old made up many lengths to be narrowly beaten by Nuclear Sky.

"My mare has a lot going for her because she is still improving," Murray said.

"Some of these others have been battling around in everything and just could not improve in the Grafton Cup.

"Rodney Quinn rode Bopalula in the Winter Cup and when he got off he said `we might have got beaten today mate but we will make up for it in the Grafton Cup'.

"I just hope Rod is a good judge because this race does look perfect for my mare." Robert Thompson, who is striving to break the Australian riding record of 3,322 set by the legendary Jack Thompson, could move one closer when he rides Running Rich in the Cup.

Thompson was on Running Rich when the big grey gelding proved too strong for his rivals in the Grafton Cup Prelude (2110m) on July 10.

"Old Running Rich is up sharply in grade on what he beat in the Prelude but at least the horse is in form," Thompson said.

"He is trained on the track and I am sure that will be an advantage in the Cup for Running Rich.

"He knows every inch of the course and does go well here so I am just hoping he might be the horse to get me closer to the record."