Fiumicino to run in 2013 Grafton Cup

Dual Group I winner Fiumicino will take his place in next Thursday’s $150,000 Listed Dogherty’s Constructions 100th Grafton Cup (2350m) after co-trainer Michael Hawkes labelled his weight of 57kg " competitive”.

Hawkes was concerned the son of Zabeel might be weighted out of the country feature after he was asked to carry 59kg when second to Destiny’s Kiss in last Monday’s rescheduled Listed Winter Cup.

But the gelding’s weight represents just 3kg over the minimum and Hawkes says the nine-year-old will venture north "providing he continues to please us over the next few days”.

"It’s a competitive weight and with suitable conditions he should be right in the mix,” Hawkes, who co-trains Fiumicino with his father John and brother Wayne, said.

Fiumicino’s drop in the weights is due to the presence of a strong group of entries for the time-honoured event, headed up by the well performed Peter Moody-trained Voila Ici.

The imported grey will shoulder 59kg in the Listed event while Caloundra Cup winner Zennista will carry 57kg.

Winter Cup hero Destiny’s Kiss will carry 56kg meaning he meets Fiumicino 2.5kg worse at the weights for beating him 2-1/4 lengths in the Rosehill feature.

Meanwhile, Howmuchdoyouloveme has been allotted 60.5kg for his title defence in Wednesday’s $150,000 Listed Crowe Howarth Ramornie Handicap (1200m).

The Tina Cotsiopoulos-trained galloper has strung together two solid wins during the Brisbane winter carnival and will carry at least 3kg more than his nearest rival.

Speedy Queenslander Adebisi and the Peter Snowden-trained Skytrain were allotted 57.5kg while Don Robb’s last start winner Big Bonanza will run with 54kg on his back.

Story: Nic Ashman RaceNet