As Ciaron Maher has Gringotts primed for a potential Big Dance three-peat, a stablemate that finished behind him in the $3 million feature last year is set to conclude its season with a victory at Randwick.
Gringotts completed his first public appearance since finishing fourth to the emerging star Sheza Alibi in the Doncaster Mile (1600m) in April with a second placing in a Gosford barrier trial on Wednesday.
“The trial couldn’t have been any better. He seems to have come back very well,” Maher’s assistant trainer, Jo Gerard-Dubord, commented.
“He will have a second trial and at this stage we’re likely to start him in the Winx Stakes and work towards the Big Dance.
“He’s won it for the last two years, and he will get the same weight.”
Lugh, who was third behind Gringotts and fellow stablemate Vivy Air in the 2025 Big Dance (1600m), will race at a mile for the first time since that event in Saturday’s ATC Thank You Trainers Handicap (1600m).
With two recent races under his belt – a first-up third to Cool Jakey over 1300m and a fourth to Mickey’s Medal over 1400m last start – Lugh is anticipated to be a strong contender.
“The other day he just raced like a horse who wants further,” Gerard-Dubord observed.
“When they picked up and quickened, he looked like he was going to drop off, then late he was coming back again.
“With the extra run under his belt and stepping up to a mile, he’s ready to run a big race.”
Lugh, still with limited racing experience, has secured five wins from his 11 starts. Gerard-Dubord mentioned that connections are eager to have him back at Randwick for a feature race on Melbourne Cup day later this year.
“I’d love to get him to a Big Dance or Little Dance. He’s a gelding and he’s got a rating where he can get into those big prizemoney races,” he stated.
The stable also plans to field Rock Empire in the same race. This gelding is making his stable debut after finishing sixth, closing strongly, over 1200m at Rosehill on July 4.
Despite a significant rise of 400m in distance due to a lack of suitable options, Gerard-Dubord confirmed that Rock Empire is fit and performing well in training.
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