Shannon Stakes 2025 pivot no sweat for Gringotts
Gringotts will bypass the 7 Stakes but looks well placed to resume his campaign in Saturday’s Shannon Stakes (1500m) after overcoming a minor health hiccup.
Trainer Ciaron Maher withdrew the George Ryder Stakes winner from Randwick last week when routine bloodwork showed irregularities, preferring to give the gelding extra time.
Assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord said the horse was not far from his usual levels and has been ticking over well since.
“There wasn’t much to it but in the middle of a preparation we didn’t want to take the risk,” Gerard-Dubord said.
“He actually galloped (Saturday) morning in an easy piece of work.
“We will take his bloods (this week) and if that’s right he will be taking his place on Saturday and it will be three weeks into a King Charles III Stakes which will work very well.”
Gringotts has already proven himself over the Rosehill course and distance, having won a Group 1 in the autumn. He resumed with a solid fifth in the Winx Stakes (1400m) before sharpening up with a Wyong trial victory.
“He is going very well and his first-up run was good. He just had to make his run a bit earlier than usual on that very heavy track,” Gerard-Dubord said.
“He will strip fitter and I’m looking forward to him getting back to the races.”
The yard will also send out Juja Kibo in the Colin Stephen Quality (2400m), a race that could set up a quick back-up into the Group 1 Metropolitan (2400m).
“He’s very fit and he will be dropping in weight so we’ll give him his chance,” Gerard-Dubord said. “If he happened to win it or run well, he could back-up in a ‘Metrop’ a week later.”
Punters considering the Shannon Stakes or Metropolitan should check the best betting sites, compare leading bookmakers and explore trusted betting apps for value.
More Racing News
Thrilling Scone Cup success for in-form Hellsing
Trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, Hellsing has entered excellent shape and notched his finest victory yet in the Listed $200,000 Arrowfield Scone Cup (1600m) held at Scone on Friday.On his 10th run in a preparation exceeding six months, Hellsing is thriving more than ever, building on a Royal Randwick...
Trainer Moloney sees ongoing enhancement in Hearcomesthestar
Improvement has marked every preparation, and John Moloney, the trainer, expects additional development from Hearcomesthestar in her upcoming appearance at Flemington.From 28 races, Hearcomesthestar has notched six wins and eight places, but Stakes grade has proven challenging for her.The approaching six-year-old earned a Listed placing at Geelong earlier this year,...
Searle family from SA chasing Melbourne Cup dream with Sir Kingsford
Gary and Nichole Searle, together with their daughter Brianna Callanan, form a South Australian training outfit with ambitions for Sir Kingsford in the Melbourne Cup.A victory in Saturday's Listed Andrew Ramsden (3200m) at Flemington earns the winner a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption ahead of the big November event.Nichole Searle sampled...
Scone's Luskin Star Stakes sees Estadio Mestalla with tough weight
Trainer Joe Pride questions the two-kilo advantage given to a Group 1 winner over Estadio Mestalla in the Luskin Star Stakes, but trusts the steady gelding to deliver full commitment.At seven years old, he notched his top triumph in the prior year's Listed Winter Stakes (1100m) and must shoulder 61kg...
Barrier 18 no hindrance to Sequista's Scone return
Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou believe filly Sequista has the class for black-type success despite her tendency to undermine herself.Having notched stakes placings in the 2024 Inglis Nursery (1000m) and run near the placings in Tempted's Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m), the three-year-old targets another milestone in Saturday's Listed Denise's...
Flemington awaits Concord Connie's next bold move
Trainer Charlotte Littlefield hopes her talented filly Concord Connie can replicate her recent feat before entertaining grander aspirations.In her third race appearance at Flemington on Anzac Day, Concord Connie notched a breathtaking win by six lengths in sharp time.This Saturday, the filly heads back to Flemington to compete against the...
Dark Jewel Classic in sights for Harlem Queen
While Harlem Queen didn't sustain her early promise from age three, trainer Nathan Doyle feels confident after her trouble-free lead-up that she might restore reliable results.She returns Saturday in the Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) held at Scone, where despite preferring stamina tests ahead, barrier five positions her well for Doyle's...
Flemington run to decide Different Gravy's Queensland Derby chances
At Flemington, Different Gravy will put his Queensland Derby dreams to the test in upcoming action.Following a Listed triumph over 1800m at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day last year, trainer Henry Dwyer fixed his focus on the northern Derby.The Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm scheduled for May...
Abounding's scratch lets Napoleonic into Doomben 10,000 lineup
Confirmation has arrived that Napoleonic will join the Doomben 10,000 field, following Abounding's removal which opened the door for the colt in the elite Group 1 dash.Team members experienced a stressful seven days after the three-year-old earned second emergency status for the $1.5 million event, as reserve Beadman claimed a...
Snowden's stable loaded with top sprinters for feature clashes
Boasting a stable full of high-caliber sprinters primed for black-type action, trainer Peter Snowden enjoys the luxury of picking and choosing among several prestigious races.Just a couple of weeks earlier, Zealously claimed victory in the Hawkesbury Gold Rush (1100m), followed by King Of Roseau and Beadman grabbing interstate stakes wins...