"It is tremendously exciting for Yulong's stallion division to
be launched with a dual-Group 1 miler the quality of Grunt.
Many of the best stallions throughout history have excelled
at a mile and we believe Grunt has the profile for success at
stud," said Sam Fairgray, COO of Yulong Investments. "He is an outstanding-looking horse and importantly for
breeders, completely Danzig-free."
Purchased from the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock National
Yearling Sale for NZ$220,000 by Cameron Cooke Bloodstock
and trainer Mick Price, the son of O'Reilly made a quick
impression on the track.
Having only the one 2 year old outing, placing third to
eventual Group 1 winner Aloisia, Grunt broke his maiden
impressively at the beginning of his second campaign when
starting a four-race winning streak.
Showing his talent, his
third victory was in the Group 3 C S Hayes Stakes, defeating
Cliff's Edge and Embellish.
This campaign culminated with a tenacious victory in the
Group 1 Australian Guineas, in only his fifth career start.
Winners of this race to have gone on to be successful
stallions include Zabeel, Flying Spur, Pins, Dash For Cash and
Reset.
Damien Oliver was effusive in his praise for Grunt post victory, "he's a magnificent specimen of a horse and he
deserved a really strong Group One win like that today."
Grunt returned as a 4-year-old to impressively win the
Group 1 Makybe Diva earlier this season by two lengths at
Flemington, beating eight Group 1 winners in the process.
He retires with a Timeform rating of 123 as a four year old,
ranking him as elite among his generation.
"An outstanding individual and brilliant 1600m horse.
Grunt
had an excellent temperament and I think he will make an
excellent stallion," said Mick Price.
From a stallion-making family, Grunt's dam is a half-sister to
New Zealand Horse of The Year and promising New Zealand
sire Ocean Park. Grunt's dam Ruqqaya is a two-time winning
mare who has also produced stakes performer Addison from
three to race.
Like promising young stallion Dundeel, Grunt carries Zabeel
on his dam side and is free of Danzig blood.
Grunt is one of 13 Group 1 winners by dominant New Zealand
sire O'Reilly, whose sons Alamosa and Shamexpress have
sired six Group winners including three Group 1 winners.
"On type and pedigree Grunt will suit a wide variety of
mares, which is one of the major attributes that attracted
us to him," Fairgray said.
"Yulong has strengthened its broodmare band over the last
12 month's and we will be supporting Grunt in his first
season with many of these mares. We will be active at the
upcoming broodmare sales to ensure he has the best possible
start to his stud career."
Yulong Release
