Sixties Groove Leads Home an Irish Trifecta in Brisbane Cup

Mark Smith - Saturday June 8

Following placings in the Group III Hawkesbury Cup, Group 1 Doomben Cup and Group II PJ O'Shea Stakes, Australian Bloodstock's import Sixties Groove (IRE) was rewarded for his consistency with a fighting win over a game Grey Lion (IRE) in Saturday's Group II Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm.

Ridden by Damien Oliver, the Kris Lees-trained gelding was given a ground-saving ride before weaving a passage to hook up with Grey Lion (IRE) in the final 100 metres.

Grey Lion (IRE) was in for the fight but Sixties Groove (IRE) came away to win by three quarters of a length with a further two and a quarter lengths to Big Duke (IRE) completing an Irish-bred trifecta.


A three-time winner in England, it was a well-deserved maiden stakes win for Sixties Groove (IRE) who advances his record to 7 wins, 3 seconds and 4 thirds from 24 starts with earnings of $726,536.

Oliver said he rode for luck and got it when he needed it most.

"I've had a few minor placings today and very nice to crack it with a big race like The Brisbane Cup," Oliver said.

"We had to take our medicine early go back and hope to pick our way through.

"He has a good turn of foot for a stayer so I knew if I could ride him cold and produce him at the right time he'd be hard to beat.

"We got some nice runs coming down to the turn and it was a real war with Grey Lion over the closing stages there, but he wanted it more.

"He had strong form lines leading into the race and I think getting to Eagle Farm the bigger track ticked all the boxes.

"He's got a bit of go about him this horse, he pulled up a bit sore near the post so he may need a little spell."

 

Purchased by Hugo Merry for 80,000 guineas from Book 2 of the 2014 Tattersalls October Sale, Sixties Groove (IRE) is the best of two winners out of the unraced Imperial Dancer mare Gift Dancer who is a half-sister to Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas and Grade 1 Garden City Stakes winner Samitar (Rock Of Gibraltar) who is the dam of the Group III winning Deep Impact colt Danon Chaser who was fourth in the Group 1 NHK Mile at Tokyo.

Sixties Groove becomes the 13th stakes-winner for the Group 1 St Leger winner Sixties Icon (Galileo).

Advertisment
More Reading...
$2,000 Gavelhouse Bargain Keeps on Winning!
The Grey Goose continued to belie her purchase price last start when recording her fifth win at Wingatui, bringing her career earnings to more than $225,000.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
Luberon Heads Cambridge Stud Saturday Charge
Lance Noble will attempt to add to a strong run of spring form for Cambridge Stud when he sends out five well-credentialled runners in Brendan and Jo Lindsay’s black and gold colours at Pukekohe on Saturday.
$1.3million Snitzel Colt Ready to Fire on Debut for Te Akau
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are confident they have the young firepower to make an early impression in the first of the black type features at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.