Grunt (horse)

Last updated
Grunt
SireO'Reilly
Grandsire Last Tycoon
DamRuqqaya
DamsireVan Nistelrooy
SexStallion
Foaled12 November 2014
CountryNew Zealand
ColourBrown or bay
OwnerR & C Legh Racing Pty Ltd Syndicate, Wright Racing Syndicate, Gurners Bloodstock Co Syndicate, R Smith, G Pulitano, S Tsalikidis & C Cortese
TrainerMick Price
Record11-5-0-1
Earnings A$1.232,450
Major wins
C S Hayes Stakes (G3)(2018)
Australian Guineas (G1)(2018)
Makybe Diva Stakes (G1)(2018)
Last updated on 15 September 2018

Grunt (foaled 12 November 2014) is a Thoroughbred racehorse bred in New Zealand and trained in Australia. He won two Group One races, and over a million dollars.

Thoroughbred Horse breed developed for racing

The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are considered "hot-blooded" horses that are known for their agility, speed, and spirit.

Group One, Group 1, Grade I or G1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. In Europe, the level of races for Thoroughbred racing is determined using the Pattern race system introduced in 1971 and monitored by the European Pattern Committee. To attain or maintain a Group One status, the average rating for the first four finishers in the race must be 115 or higher over a three year period. The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities works to ensure consistent international standards. Group One races may only be restricted to age groups or a stipulated sex: they should not be restricted to horses bred in a certain country. Group One (G1) races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia, but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply.

Career

Grunt made his debut on 20 May 2017 at Flemington. Jumping at odds of $26, he finished third. [1]

Flemington Racecourse is a major horse racing venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is most notable for hosting the Melbourne Cup, which is the world's richest handicap and the world's richest 3200 metre horse race. The racecourse is situated on low alluvial flats, next to the Maribyrnong River. The area was first used for horse racing in March 1840.

After a long spell, Grunt broke his maiden at Werribee on 10 December. On the 26th, he had another "effortless" win at Morphetville. Trainer Mick Price said, "Grunt is a work in progress but is a really good horse. I think he’s a big Flemington horse. I can’t wait to get him to 2000 and 2400 (metres) but he is a colt so we’ll try to maximise value on him." [2]

A short spell followed before Grunt contested the C S Hayes Stakes. Jumping at $7, he settled just off the pace before getting in the clear in the last 200 metres, winning by a short length. Jockey Damien Oliver said, "I really like the way he dug deep when I asked him." [3]

The C S Hayes Stakes is a Victoria Racing Club Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race for three years old colts and geldings, at set weights with penalties, over a distance of 1400 metres. It is held annually at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia in February. Prizemoney is A$160,000.

Grunt then won the million dollar Australian Guineas by half a length after starting from the widest gate, with Mick Price then spelling him for almost 6 months. "I'm mindful that he's going to be a really good four-year-old. It wouldn't worry me if I had to put him out. He's not light, but he's not furnished yet," he said. [4]

The Australian Guineas is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds, run at set weights, over a distance of 1600 metres at Flemington Racecourse, in Melbourne, Australia in March during the VRC Autumn Racing Carnival. Total prize money is A$1,000,000.

Returning in the P B Lawrence Stakes on 18 August 2018, Grunt finished 5th, the first time he did not place in a race. Oliver said he ran out of condition at the end of the event. [5] He then placed eighth in another race at Caulfield. Grunt's next race was back at Flemington, where he won the Makybe Diva Stakes at double figures. He sat in fifth, just off the pace, before taking the lead in the last 300 metres. Damien Oliver said, "I've always maintained to Mick he appreciates Flemington so much better, the big open track. And he showed that today." [6] Price added, "He's at home in these Group 1 races. Low-resting heartrate, doesn't listen to anyone and just gets into the zone." [7] In the next month he raced in two further Group 1 races, finishing well off the lead in both.

The P B Lawrence Stakes, registered as the J J Liston Stakes, is a Melbourne Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race held under weight for age conditions, for horses aged three years old and upwards, over a distance of 1400 metres, held at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in August. Total prize money for the race is A$200,000.

Caulfield Racecourse is one of Melbourne, Australia's best-known horse-racing tracks. Commonly known as "The Heath" by local racegoers, it is located eight kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, on the boundary of Caulfield and Caulfield East in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs. It is home to the Melbourne Racing Club.

The Makybe Diva Stakes is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race at Weight for age conditions for three years old and older, over a distance of 1,600 metres held at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia in September. Total prize money is A$750,000.

After a 5 month spell, Grunt returned as top weight in the Group 3 Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap, finishing sixth. [8]

Related Research Articles

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The Melbourne Cup is Australia's most famous annual Thoroughbred horse race. It is a 3200-metre race for three-year-olds and over, conducted by the Victoria Racing Club on the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria as part of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races. The event starts at 3pm on the first Tuesday in November and is known locally as "the race that stops a nation".

W.S. Cox Plate

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References

  1. ↑ "Aloisia impressive in Australian debut". JustHorseRacing.com.
  2. ↑ Andrew Eddy. "Price looks for Guineas Grunt". racing.com.
  3. ↑ Andrew Eddy. "Price possesses Guineas Grunt". racing.com.
  4. ↑ "Grunt gives Mick Price third Australian Guineas at Flemington". punters.
  5. ↑ Michael Manley. "Cup showtime for returning Kings after polished Caulfield exhibition". news.com.au.
  6. ↑ Matthew Toogood. "Grunt wins the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes". Bloodstock.com.au.
  7. ↑ Andrew Eddy. "Grunt may chase Melbourne Cup not Cox Plate". Racing.com.
  8. ↑ "Stanley: Violate an All-Star chance". punters.com.au.
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