Husson Stayer Wins Cup

Group I jockey and now successful trainer Chris Munce had won the Grafton Cup twice before as a jockey and won it for a third time on Thursday as a trainer when First Crush scored a determined victory in the $160,000 Listed staying test.

Second at his past two starts in the Listed Ipswich Cup and Listed Caloundra Cup, six year-old Husson (Arg) gelding First Crush was long overdue for a feature race win.

He endured a torrid run back in the field under Mark du Plessis, but rallied in the straight to win the 2350 metre contest by a length.

Munce revealed the race was hard to watch and he had all but given up hope.

"I was nearly going to walk back to the horse stalls," Munce said.

"But Mark knew what he was doing. I didn't."

First Crush runs for well known Sydney owner Max Whitby, and Jenny Moses, the wife of another former jockey-turned trainer Kevin Moses, who trained the horse for his first five starts.

Whitby was a part-owner of Savabeel who Munce rode to win the 2004 Cox Plate.

"I told Max we would win the Grafton Cup and it's terrific to do it for him," Munce said.

"But it's a big team effort. I've got a lot of young kids, a lot of young staff who work tremendously hard."

A $100,000 purchase for Kevin Moses from the 2014 Magic Millions Patinack Dispersal, First Crush has won seven of 34 starts earning in excess of $358,000.

First Crush is a half-brother to South American Group I winner Questing New from Brazilian Champion 3YO Filly Loving New (Brz).

He is the 15^th stakes-winner for Aquis based Husson (Arg), who stands at their Queensland base at a fee of $9,900 this spring. He was popular last year covering 96 mares and again looks a value choice for an outcross sire completely free of Danehill blood.