There will be no shortage of hard-luck stories after the running of the Listed The Maclean Hotel Grafton Cup (2350m) at Grafton on Thursday, but take nothing off the winner Purrfect Deal.
Given a positive ride by Ben Thompson, the 4yo daughter of Dundeel tracked the leader Spencer before hitting the front a long way out. She kept up a relentless gallop to hold the challenges of the chasing pack. Ad Valorem's (USA) Scone Cup winner Laure Me In came closest, beaten a neck with a short-neck further back to Pierro's Parry Sound, who made it six consecutive placings, the last four at Listed level.
It has been a profitable Grafton Carnival for winning trainer Michael Costa whose Phobetor (Dream Ahead) was runner-up to Southern lad in Wednesday's feature, the Listed Ramornie Hcp.
Sent off the favourite following her last start win in the Grafton Cup Prelude, Purrfect Deal advances her record to seven wins, one second and one third from 11 starts with earnings of $235,790.
It was an emotional win for Costa, who was the Deputy Chairman of the Northern Rivers Racing Association before joining the Metropolitan panel in Sydney as a Senior Steward.
"I've dreamt of winning this race for about thirteen years, so it is very emotional," Costa told Sky Racing.
"It was a great place to live for about a year and a half, so it was like a home ground grand final today.
"She is just so tough. She had to do a little bit early and probably got to the wrong part of the track and had to get going a bit early.
Thomson also praised Purrfect Deals resilience.
"She took on Group 1 mares two starts back at a mile, which is well below her trip, so it wasn't a true assessment of her," Thomson said.
"She is an out and out stayer. She had to earn that today. I did have to use up a bit of gas, but I was happy to find the rail and let her switch off and to following a decent horse with a good jockey on board.
"She stuck it out well with 54kgs on her back, and it was a well-deserved Listed win."
A $30,000 purchase by Cinque Cavalli out of the Middlebrook Thoroughbreds draft at the 2017 Australian Weanling Sales, Purrfect Deal was the third equal cheapest yearling by Dundeel sold in 2018 when knocked down to New Breed Racing / M Costa for $16,000 at the 2018 Classic Yearling Sale.
Two of the owners of Purrfect Deal picked up shares in the daughter of Dundeel for $9,000 and $8,500 at the 2021 Inglis January (Early) Online Sale.
Bred by Balance Thoroughbreds Purrfect Deal is the best of seven winners from nine to race out of the stakes-placed Tale Of The Cat (USA) mare Our Kitty.
The dam of Our Kitty, My Girl Elise (Sir Tristram), is a sister to Bon Cher and De Lisle and a three-quarter sister to Grosvenor, Mahaya, National Gallery Kyrie Eleison, and Garfunkel from the family of Lonhro and Lankan Rupee.
Our Kitty was pensioned in 2018. Her final foal is the 3yo Hinchinbrook gelding Hinch'Em Up, a winner of a Taree maiden in seven starts to date.
Purrfect Deal becomes the 14th stakes-winner for Arrowfield Stud's Dundeel, who stands at a fee of $66,000 this spring.
