Making just his fourth race start, Mick Price's progressive O'Reilly gelding Grunt overcame a three-wide trip to claim Saturday's Group III CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
Grunt will join stablemates Mighty Boss and Holy Snow in the Group 1 Australian Guineas on March 3 after running down the honest Cliff's Edge to score by three-quarters of a length with Muraaqeb edging out Main Stage for third. (photo Grant Courtney )
''He's a big Flemington horse and a big striding horse,'' Price said.
''The 1400 (metres) is a bit short for him but that was his run to get him into the Guineas.
''He's a beautiful O'Reilly colt. A good-winded horse who is perfectly sound and I think that will take a little freshness off him before he goes to the Guineas.''
"We have done our timing to get him into the Australian Guineas, which is why we took him to Adelaide on Boxing Day.
"It's a great value race for colts. But he does have to beat Holy Snow and Mighty Boss.
"One advantage he does have is that he loves Flemington. Holy Snow will be different and Mighty Boss will handle it no trouble at all.
"Mighty Boss might have a better turn of foot than him. I'm not sure but he has had a different path to get into the Guineas."
Grunt was a $220,000 purchase by M G Price Racing/Cameron Cooke B/Stock out of the Trelawney Stud draft at the 2016 NZB Premier Yearling Sale.
He is the third winner from as many foal out of the winning Van Nistelrooy mare Ruqqaya a half-sister to the Group 1 Cox Plate winner Ocean Park (Thorn Park.
The fifth foal of Ruqqaya, a filly by champion stallion Savabeel, will be offered by Trelawney Stud at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Grunt becomes the 88th stakes-winner for Waikato Stud's deceased O'Reilly.
