Promising up-and-comer Gringotts added a fifth win to his record with a stylish come-from-behind performance in Saturday’s HKJC World Pool Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill.
The four-year-old gelding has now had 11 starts for five wins and five placings, with his only unplaced finish being a fifth – and only 1.1 lengths from the winner – at Randwick in September.
Gringotts was sent out as a $3.50 favourite for Saturday’s A$160,000 Benchmark 88 handicap, which was his first raceday appearance since November. He settled in the back half of the field and was caught three wide, but jockey James McDonald managed to get on the back of another runner coming up to the home turn.
McDonald brought Gringotts into clear air in the straight and turned him loose, and he wore down the runaway leader Iknowastar to win by a length.
“He was comfortable in the running and the pace was nice,” McDonald said. “We were able to get a little breather when we got on the back of one from the 700m to the 500m and they gave us a little cart up, but apart from that he did it the tough way and did it really well.”
Gringotts is trained by Ciaron Maher, who was represented at Rosehill on Saturday by Johann Gerard-Dubord.
“That was a very good win,” he said. “He’s a horse who showed us plenty in his work last preparation. He’s always worked like a very good horse, but he just wasn’t quite there mentally. He’s come back a lot more mature this time in.
“Obviously he had to cover a bit of ground today, but James just kept him comfortable. It was good to see him finish the race off the way he did.
“I think the owners have got a lovely horse going forward and there should be a lot more to come. With his position at the ratings at the moment, there’s plenty of options coming up. We’ll just take him through the grades for now, but I’m sure we’ll see him in better races in the future.”
Gringotts was bred by Totara Park Stud and is by Little Avondale Stud’s outstanding sire Per Incanto out of the Savabeel mare Miss Bluebell. Herself unraced, Miss Bluebell is a daughter of Operavega, whose half-sister Vegas Showgirl was the dam of the legendary Winx.
Gringotts was offered by Archer Park in Book 1 of Karaka 2021, where Kasa Bloodstock bought him for $100,000. He was re-offered at the Ready to Run Sale later that year, but failed to meet his $450,000 reserve. He has so far earned A$387,300 for his syndicate of owners.