Gravina Strikes in Village Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday October 8

Blake Shinn made it three wins in the first four races on Caulfield Guineas Day when finding a narrow seam to capture the Listed Neds Village Stakes on Godolphin homebred Gravina.

Another pearler from Blake Shinn (image by Blake Shinn)

The 5yo son of Sebring defeated Nicolini Vito (Nicconi) by a length with a long-neck back to the winner’s stablemate Zethus (Exceed And Excel), who was obliged to race three wide the trip from an outside barrier.

Advertisement

Fourth behind the exciting I Wish I Win in the Listed Testa Rosa Stakes at Sandown at his most recent start, Gravina advances his record to five wins, three seconds, and five thirds from 20 starts with earnings of  $506,875.

Winning trainer James Cummings said Gravina had been building up to a win.

“Blake Shinn is riding beautifully,” Cummings said.

“He had the draw, drew 7 and Jamie Kah drew 14 on Zethus, but our third placegetter was just as big a run three deep outside the lead and both jockeys executed as well as they could from the draws.

“Hopefully, they just keep rising. There’s a sprint race at Flemington in Cup Week which is perfect for them. I just really love the way they’re both doing.”

A rare Godolphin homebred son of Sebring, Gravina is the best of two winners from four to race out of the Listed MRC Chairman's Stakes (1000m) winner Metastasio (Street Cry) whose half-sister Librettista (Elusive Quality) the dam of Listed winner and Grade 1-placed Frenzied (Yeats).

Metastasio’s unraced dam Libretto (Singspiel) is a half-sister to Group II winner Wareed (Sadler’s Wells) and the Group II EP Taylor Stakes winner Truly A Dream (Darshaan) and the stakes-placed Solo De Lune (Law Society).

Truly A Dream is the dam of Group II winner and dual Group 1 placed Dream Peace (Dansili) while Solo de Lune is the dam of the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Cerulean Sky (Darshaan) and the Group 1 Irish Oaks winner Moonstone (Dalakahni).

Metastasio has a 2yo filly by Ribchester (IRE) named Rhapzodise, and a yearling colt by Frosted (USA). She was covered by Bivouac last spring.

Gavina is the 79th stakes-winner for Sebring, who died at Widden Stud in February 2019.

Advertisment

Race Result - Neds Village Stakes LR 1200m

Caulfield Track: Soft(6) Time: 1:10.85
1
Gravina
- 5g Sebring (AUS) x Metastasio (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: B Shinn 56.5
Sebring
2
1.0
Nicolini Vito
- 5g Nicconi (AUS) x She's Cherryrype (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: Craig Williams 54
Nicconi
3
1.4
Zethus
- 4g Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Melpomene (AUS) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Jamie Kah 54
4
1.8
Triple Missile
- 5g Smart Missile (AUS) x Triple Latte (USA) (Medaglia D'Oro (USA))
Tnr: L Smith Rdr: C Newitt 57.5
5
2.0
Crosshaven
- 5g Smart Missile (AUS) x Irish Colleen (NZ) (Shinko King (IRE))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: M Zahra 59
6
2.5
Amish Boy
- 5g Star Witness (AUS) x Sheeznodoubt (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56.5
7
2.6
Second Slip
- 6g Alamosa (NZ) x Scarlet O'Hara (NZ) (Fast 'n' Famous (AUS))
Tnr: Will Clarken Rdr: Ben Price 55.5
7
2.6
Curran
- 5g Night Of Thunder (IRE) x Tramell (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: Ms L Tolson & Ms L Proctor Rdr: Matthew Cartwright 54
9
2.7
Crestani
- 5g Nicconi (AUS) x Cresta Condor (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: P G Carey Rdr: B Mc Dougall 54.5
10
2.9
Pintoff
- 6g Toorak Toff (AUS) x Pinsahoy (AUS) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: Richard Cully Rdr: D Oliver 56
11
3.0
Ocean Beyond
- 5g Ocean Park (NZ) x Frankly (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: Andrew Bobbin Rdr: Ms L J Meech 56
12
3.5
Prince Of Boom
- 4g Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Dazzling Display (AUS) (Red Dazzler (AUS))
Tnr: R L Heathcote Rdr: Damian Lane 59
13
4.5
Superium
- 6g Verrazano (USA) x Rosie's Halo (AUS) (Al Maher (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Jye McNeil 56.5
14
4.6
Wicklow Town
- 6g Canford Cliffs (IRE) x Afterburn (AUS) (Super Jet (USA))
Tnr: Julie Scott Rdr: J Mott 57.5
15
7.3
Frankie Pinot
- 6g Your Song (AUS) x My Last Fling (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: Madison Lloyd 59
More Reading...
Storm Boy Retired to Coolmore Australia
An utterly dominant winner of the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, the hugely exciting son of the international sire sensation Justify is set to join the Coolmore Australia roster in 2025.
One To Watch – Randwick
After impressing on debut, the Chris Waller trained 3yo Super Seth filly Frosty Girl (NZ) took on the older mares on the Kensington track, remaining unbeaten with another stylish victory to become Breednet’s One To Watch.
Godolphin's Sebring Colt Breaks His Maiden
Not a lot went right in the early stages for Godolphin’s two-year-old Sebring colt Gravina who was hung out on a limb from the outside gate before Hugh Bowman elected to push on to the front and it proved the winning move.
Irish Oaks Possible for Royal Ascot Fairytale Filly
The biggest story in terms of our audience reads from Royal Ascot last week was by far and away the one on the Aussie owned underdog three year-old filly Cercene, who captured the Group I Coronation Stakes.
Positive Build Up to Karaka Weanling Sale
Stars of the future go under the hammer at Karaka on Thursday with New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale set to commence at 10am.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday June 25
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Capitalist 2YO Wins for Doyle
Nathan Doyle and his team would be bubbling with excitement surrounding the return of their unbeaten G1 star Private Harry, but as they say ‘little fish are sweet’ and the stable were in the winner’s circle at Wyong on Tuesday with a two year-old son of Capitalist.
Nice 2YO Winner for Vinery Value Sire
He might be the least expensive sire on the Vinery roster this spring at a fee of just $6,600, but Headwater gets his share of winners and produced a new two year-old winner at Doomben on Wednesday.
Raging Force Bolts in at Randwick
Cosmic Force 2YO Raging Force was sent around in the Group III ATC Breeder’s Plate on debut last spring finishing sixth to King Kirk and coming out of the race with an injury, but time and a patient approach has put his career back on track.
Hong Kong Buyer Secures Top Lot June (Late) Sale at $500,000
The impact of the recent success in Hong Kong of horses sourced on Inglis Digital was in evidence today, with the top lot and the third top lot bought by Hong Kong-based owners.