Tavistock 4YO Gunstock Captures Coongy Cup

Mark Smith - Wednesday October 12

Well-supported when disappointing behind Hitotsu in the Victoria Derby twelve months ago, the Tavistock gelding Gunstock looked like a Cups horse in the making with a dominant performance in the Group III Neds Coongy Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on Wednesday.

Gunstock brightens up a bleak day (image Grant Courtney)

Ridden by Jamie Kah for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, Gunstock found himself in front at the 700m when Johnny Got Angry began to weaken.

The son of Tavistock did not look like stopping on the deteriorating track to defeat Yonkers USA) (Medaglia d’Oro) by three lengths, with Aurora's Symphony (Glass Harmonium) one and a half lengths back in third.

Off the scene for forty-six weeks after his Derby failure, Gunstock was a fighting second over 1630m at Flemington on September 18.

“He’s not a bad horse, we just had to clean him up a bit after the derby. He has a good 2400m race in him whether it is Bendigo, Geelong, or the last day of the Carnival,” Price said.

&ldq

Advertisement
uo;He is a clean-winded, sound stayer who can win a nice staying race. He is still on the up.”

The winner of the Group III Caulfield Classic over the same course and distance last spring, Gunstock advances his record to three wins, a second, and a third from seven starts with earnings of $286,685.

An $80,000 pinhook by Ohukia Lodge from the Cambridge Stud draft from Book 1 at Karaka, Gunstock made $135,000 to the bid of Import Racing at the 2020 Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale.

Gunstock a $135,000 Inglis Ready 2 Race 2yo

A brother to the Group II ATC Phar Lap Stakes and Group II Carbine Club Stakes runner-up The Irishman, Gunstock is out of the unraced Zabeel mare Zeranti is out of a half-sister to stakes-winner Snapshots and Express a Smile, the dam of triple Group 1 winner Sea Siren, Group III winner and successful sire Oratorio (AUS) and Listed winner Discord.

DGR Thoroughbred Services and Snowden Racing outlaid $200,000 for a brother to Gunstock a the 2021 NZB Karaka Book 1 Yearling Sale. Named The Englishman, he finished second on debut at Kensington- Randwick on August 24 to the Group I Golden Rose third Zou Tiger.

Zeranti has a yearling colt by Belardo (IRE) and was not covered last year. 

Advertisment

Race Result - Neds Coongy Cup Gr3 2000m

Caulfield Track: Soft(7) Time: 2:06.65
1
Gunstock
- 4g Tavistock (NZ) x Zeranti (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Jamie Kah 54
2
3.0
Yonkers
- 7g Medaglia D'Oro (USA) x Anne Of Kiev (IRE) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 59
3
4.5
Aurora's Symphony
- 6g Glass Harmonium (IRE) x Aurora's Hot (AUS) (Fantastic Light (USA))
Tnr: Symon Wilde Rdr: H Coffey 54
4
4.6
Glint Of Hope
- 4m Deep Impact (JPN) x Sacred Sight (GB) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: D Moor 54.5
5
7.1
Dadoozdart
- 7g Dawn Approach (IRE) x Hairpin (USA) (Bernardini (USA))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Jye McNeil 54
6
7.8
Paternal
- 4g Savabeel (AUS) x O'Dianne (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Craig Williams 54
7
8.6
Milford
- 5g Savabeel (AUS) x Etiquette (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: Patrick Moloney 56.5
8
12.1
Media Award
- 5m Shamus Award (AUS) x Music Media (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Chris Calthorpe Rdr: Damien Thornton 54
9
32.1
Johnny Get Angry
- 5g Tavistock (NZ) x Luminova (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Denis Pagan Rdr: Lachlan King 55
More Reading...
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.
Tycoon Star Makes Winning Debut in G3 Maribyrnong Plate
Tycoon Star looked like the consummate professional when making a winning career debut in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) to kickstart Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
Is This the Next Derby Winner for Tavistock?
After Daisies flagged her Oaks credentials in the Ethereal Stakes, Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr look to have another Classic contender in the Victoria Derby-bound Gunstock following his strong-finishing win in the Group III Caulfield Classic (2000m).
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.