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...
Kiwi Grey Targets Subzero on Cup Day
The Subzero Handicap (1400m), a race solely for registered grey thoroughbreds, has proven to be a fan favourite at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, and this year, Kiwis will have their own grey to barrack for.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
Two heats at the Rosehill trials on Monday morning over 900m and the quickest of those was won by an expensive son of Golden Slipper winning first season sire Farnan.
Melbourne Cup Tips – Tara Talks Racing
Tara Talks Racing is now online having had a Sunday arvo drink or two as we go through the Cup horses, so what do Clocker and I like for this year’s Melbourne Cup?
Kiwi Longshot Hope for Cup
Grant Cooksley came tantalisingly close to getting his hands on the Melbourne Cup as a jockey, and he is hoping to rectify that on Tuesday as a trainer when he lines-up Trust In You in the two-mile feature.
Te Akau Chasing Another Cup Day Success
Last year’s Melbourne Cup Day concluded in success for Mark Walker in the Gr.3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m), a race he will chase back-to-back crowns in on Tuesday with Kiwi mare Quintessa.
Antrim Coast to Fly Flag for The Oaks Stud
The well-renowned colours of The Oaks Stud will feature across two feature Trans-Tasman meetings this week, kicking off with Antrim Coast lining up in the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Bellatrix Star May Back Up in G1 Champions Sprint
Te Akau and Fortuna Racing’s filly Bellatrix Star proved she is among Australia’s top sprinting three-year-olds last Saturday at Flemington, finishing second in the A$2 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
Will it be a fairytale finish for Tasmanian-bred mare The Map?
Fresh from sweeping the sire awards at the 2024 Tasmanian Racing Awards this season, the Armidale Stud team is in line for another significant achievement with The Map (Alpine Eagle x This Moment) flying the flag for resident stallion Alpine Eagle in the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup on Tuesday 5 November.
Zoustar 6YO Stepping up to 2000m
Pre-post favourite Habana will head into unfamiliar territory at Ellerslie, but there is confidence in his camp that it will be a smooth transition.
Sires With Winners - Monday November 4
Here is the full list of 21 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.