Grunt Bounces Back in Makybe Diva

Mark Smith - Saturday September 15

Trainer Mick Price believes even a Melbourne Cup is not beyond his Group 1 Australian Guineas hero Grunt who bounced back from a sub-par effort in the Memsie Stakes to run away with Saturday's $750,000 Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.

Settled back in fifth place by Damien Oliver as Black Heart Bart cut out solid sectionals, Grunt tool control at the 300 metres and was strong to the line to defeat Kings Will Dream by two lengths with New Zealander Jon Snow a half-length back in third. (photo Grant Courtney)

The 4yo son of O'Reilly advances his record to 5 wins and 1 third from 8 starts with earnings of $1,214,250.


It was a fifth win in the race for Oliver who said a return to Flemington turned Grunt's form around after two unplaced efforts.

"Today was D day for him, he's unbeaten at Flemington and he really does enjoy the big open spaces," Oliver said.

It was a nice truly run race and he had a lovely run and when I popped out he chimes in perfectly. We saw the real Grunt today."

Price said he has some thinking to do in planning Grunt's programme.

"He's in everything. If we go three weeks till the Turnbull then you go to the Caulfield Cup but if you go the Underwood and Caulfield Stakes you've got to go the Cox Plate. I'd be a bit concerned how he would get around Moonee Valley, so I don't really know which way we will go.

"I think he would be a beautiful staying horse and it wouldn't worry me if we ended up in a Melbourne Cup, with a lighter weight, I think about 54kgs. It didn't hurt Rekindled to be lightly raced so I'll take a line off that rookie Joe O'Brien and maybe he'll end up in a Melbourne Cup at the end of this preparation."

Grunt was a $220,000 purchase by M G Price Racing/Cameron Cooke B/Stock out of the Trelawney Stud draft at the 2016 NZB Premier Yearling Sale.

He is the third winner from as many foals out of the winning Van Nistelrooy mare Ruqqaya who is a half-sister to the Group 1 Cox Plate winner Ocean Park (Thorn Park).

The fifth foal of Ruqqaya, a filly by champion stallion Savabeel, was withdrawn from the Inglis Easter Yearling sale.

After missing in 2016 Ruqqaya was covered by Tivaci last spring.

Grunt completed a grand day for the former Waikato Stud stalwart O'Reilly after Brutal kept his unbeaten record intact earlier on the card. 

Advertisment
More Reading...
First Season Sires at MM Book 1 – How Did They Fare?
At the Magic Millions Yearling Sale in 2024 a first season sire produced the top lot when the Wootton Bassett (GB) filly from Avantage sold for $2.1million and the same thing happened this year with another Coolmore stallion Home Affairs producing an exceptional filly from the great mare Sunlight that sold for $3.2million.
Kiwi Breeders Celebrate Brutal Doncaster Victory
The Matamata thoroughbred community celebrated another Group One victory on Saturday when Brutal took out the Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick.
First Runner A Brilliant Winner For Sandbar
Kooringal Stud’s beautifully bred first season sire Sandbar couldn’t have kicked his career off any more impressively after his first runner produced a near six length romp at Coffs Harbour on Sunday.
$170,000 Spirit of Boom Filly Tops MM Book 2 Day 1
The team from First Light Racing returned to the scene of one of their greatest recent purchases to snare the top selling lot on Day One of the Book Two section of the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale today.
Brave Snitzel Colt Goes Two for Two - Karka Million Next
A short time ago, To Bravery Born was unlikely to get a shot at making the $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) field, but the colt took his opportunity at Ellerslie on Sunday with a commanding victory in the Trackside.co.nz (1200m).
Famous Aussie Family Produces NZ Derby Contender
In a nail-biting finish to Sunday’s Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m), the roar of adoring connections was heard in the Ellerslie grandstand when maiden galloper Mustang Morgan saluted to become the second stakes-winner for his Victoria Derby winning sire Preferment.
Newgate Farm Acquire an Interest in Brutal
An interest in Group I ATC Doncaster Handicap winner Brutal (NZ) has been sold to Newgate Farm and partners.
2025 Karaka Yearling Sale Preview on Sky
Global yearling buyers will head to New Zealand for the 2025 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale from January 26 to 28 but if you want a head start on your shortlists or simply enjoy seeing the next crop of racetrack stars, don’t miss Monday night’s Sale Preview with Caroline Searcy nationally on Sky Thoroughbred Central at 7.30pm.
Checkmate Stakes Goal Plans to Be Decided
The future prospects for rising star Checkmate continue to be uncertain for trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, after the impressive three-year-old trounced his rivals in the Sunday’s Cloudsoft Accounting 1500 at Ellerslie.
Sacred Capital the King of Macau
Raffles Racing's New Zealand-bred Sacred Capital has quickly stamped himself as the star of Macau Racing, with the son of O'Reilly winning Sunday's M$800,000 (NZ$155,000) Macau Gold Cup (1800m) in effortless fashion in testing conditions.