O'Reilly Stallion Shooting for Another Group One

Media Release - Wednesday September 26

Last-start Group One winner Grunt will be aiming for a third win at elite level when he lines-up in the Group I  Underwood Stakes (1800m) on his hometrack on Sunday.

Grunt - Grant CourtneyTrained at Caulfield by Mick Price, Grunt won the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) last season before winning the Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington a fortnight ago and has now been set on a Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) path.

Price is happy with the way the four-year-old entire has pulled up since his last-start win and said he will have two lead-up runs into the Cox Plate, including Sunday's 1800m feature where he has drawn the outside barrier in the ten horse field.

"Grunt has had a couple of gallops, he galloped here (Caulfield) on Saturday morning and sat off Fighting Harada this (Wednesday) morning," he said.

"He's fit, he's sound and he's happy and he'll take his place (on Sunday).

"The Cox Plate path with him is to go into the Caulfield Stakes (2000m, Group One) after the Underwood, that's in two weeks, and then into the Cox Plate. I've got to fit in a Moonee Valley practice in there somewhere as well.

"So we're going to take that path, there is plenty of racing for him and we'll just play around with him in-between runs and he should be fine."

Price is confident with the four-year-old heading into Sunday and said Grunt would appreciate the step up in distance after his two unplaced efforts over 1400m at Caulfield fresh-up this season.

"I know 1400m is no good for him around here (Caulfield), but once you get him up to 1800 to 2000m, momentum changes and they get around the corners a bit better," Price said.

"He's a big, long striding horse and he doesn't want to be in the mess, trying to pick up and sprint. That is why Flemington suits him. I think if he gets a bit of free-running, he'll be right in the money." – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
Brutal Back But Is He Everest Bound?
Newgate Farm purchased an interest in Brutal after he won the Group 1 Doncaster Mile in April and the decision to keep the handsome son of O’Reilly in training as a 4-year-old looks set to pay off bigtime following an impressive return to racing in Saturday’s $500,000 Group II Premiere Stakes (1200m).
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
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.