Gringotts secures first stakes success
New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts took his promising career to new heights in Brisbane on Saturday with a first black-type success in the A$160,000 Listed Members’ Handicap (1600m) at Doomben.
It was the seventh win from just a 13-race career for the four-year-old, who has earned A$590,050 for a syndicate of owners headed by Ozzie Kheir and John O’Neill.
Gringotts collected a win and three placings from four starts in the spring, but has found a rich vein of form in an undefeated autumn.
He resumed with a Benchmark 88 handicap victory over 1400m at Rosehill on March 30, then won the Tamworth Cup (1400m) on April 26.
On Saturday he lifted that winning streak into stakes company.
Ridden by Jamie Kah for trainer Ciaron Maher, Gringotts showed early speed before easing back into fourth.
Kah presented Gringotts on the outside of the leaders at the home turn and pushed the button, and the favourite rolled forward to take command.
Gringotts asserted his superiority down the straight and completed a two-length victory over Knights Choice and the fellow Kiwi-bred Nikau Spur.
“It just worked out perfectly in the end,” Kah said.
“When he jumped, I wasn’t going to be that positive, but he jumped and put himself there. It worked out well.
“He surprised me how well he jumped and when I had no cover I was a little bit worried. But as soon as we got cover, he relaxed and he was fine.
“I was very confident on the turn. He’s a bit of an overthinker, so I gave him a few just to wake him up, but he was always home.
“I galloped this horse at Moonee Valley months and months ago and got off him and said, ‘Who is this horse? Gee he’s a nice horse.’ He’s put some good wins together now and he’s in for a nice prep.”