Another Flemington Group 1 for Grunt (NZ)

Six months on from his victory in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington, high-class Karaka graduate Grunt (NZ) (O’Reilly) returned to Australian racing’s headquarters and won another elite race over the same course and distance.

The four-year-old triumphed over a stellar field in the A$750,000 Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) on Saturday, bursting out of midfield 300 metres from the finish and racing to victory by two lengths in a slick time of 1:34.91.

The Caulfield Cup favourite Kings Will Dream (Casamento) was second, with the Derby-winning Karaka graduate Jon Snow (NZ) (Iffraaj) third.

“He’s a beautiful, big Flemington horse and it was a really dominant win today,” said trainer Mick Price, who paid $220,000 to buy the son of O’Reilly at the 2016 Premier Sale.

Grunt has now had eight starts for five wins, three at stakes level. He has earned A$1.21 million in prize-money – more than five times his purchase price.

His value extends even further beyond that, with his dam Ruqqaya (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy) being a half-sister to the five-time Group 1 winner and exciting sire Ocean Park (NZ) (Thorn Park).

Grunt is raced by R & C Legh Racing Pty Ltd, Wright Racing, Gurners Bloodstock Co, Mr R Smith, Mr G Pulitano, Mr S Tsalikidis and Mr C Cortese.