Lugh ready to perform at Randwick

While Ciaron Maher readies Gringotts for a potential third consecutive Big Dance triumph, a horse from the same stable that trailed him in last year's $3 million showcase is aiming to finish its season strongly at Randwick.

Gringotts made his initial public outing since finishing fourth behind the promising Sheza Alibi in the Doncaster Mile (1600m) back in April, by running second in a Gosford barrier trial on Wednesday.

"The trial couldn't have been any better. He seems to have come back very well," stated Jo Gerard-Dubord, Ciaron Maher's assistant trainer.

"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 finished third behind Gringotts and stablemate Vivy Air in the 2025 Big Dance (1600m), will return to the mile distance for the first time since then in Saturday's ATC Thank You Trainers Handicap (1600m).

Having had the advantage of two recent races – a third-place finish first-up over 1300m behind Cool Jakey and a fourth behind Mickey's Medal over 1400m last time out – Lugh is expected to be a formidable competitor.

"The other day he just raced like a horse who wants further," Gerard-Dubord explained.

"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."

Still relatively untested, Lugh boasts five victories from his 11 career starts. Gerard-Dubord indicated that the connections are eager to target a Melbourne Cup day feature race at Randwick 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 added.

The stable is also entering Rock Empire in the same event. This gelding is making his stable debut, having finished sixth with a strong late run over 1200m at Rosehill on July 4.

Despite a significant increase in distance of 400m due to limited suitable races, Gerard-Dubord reported that the horse is fit and impressing the team at home.

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