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Sixties Groove Leads Home an Irish Trifecta in Brisbane Cup

Mark Smith - Saturday June 8

Following placings in the Group III Hawkesbury Cup, Group 1 Doomben Cup and Group II PJ O'Shea Stakes, Australian Bloodstock's import Sixties Groove (IRE) was rewarded for his consistency with a fighting win over a game Grey Lion (IRE) in Saturday's Group II Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm.

Ridden by Damien Oliver, the Kris Lees-trained gelding was given a ground-saving ride before weaving a passage to hook up with Grey Lion (IRE) in the final 100 metres.

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Grey Lion (IRE) was in for the fight but Sixties Groove (IRE) came away to win by three quarters of a length with a further two and a quarter lengths to Big Duke (IRE) completing an Irish-bred trifecta.


A three-time winner in England, it was a well-deserved maiden stakes win for Sixties Groove (IRE) who advances his record to 7 wins, 3 seconds and 4 thirds from 24 starts with earnings of $726,536.

Oliver said he rode for luck and got it when he needed it most.

"I've had a few minor placings today and very nice to crack it with a big race like The Brisbane Cup," Oliver said.

"We had to take our medicine early go back and hope to pick our way through.

"He has a good turn of foot for a stayer so I knew if I could ride him cold and produce him at the right time he'd be hard to beat.

"We got some nice runs coming down to the turn and it was a real war with Grey Lion over the closing stages there, but he wanted it more.

"He had strong form lines leading into the race and I think getting to Eagle Farm the bigger track ticked all the boxes.

"He's got a bit of go about him this horse, he pulled up a bit sore near the post so he may need a little spell."

Purchased by Hugo Merry for 80,000 guineas from Book 2 of the 2014 Tattersalls October Sale, Sixties Groove (IRE) is the best of two winners out of the unraced Imperial Dancer mare Gift Dancer who is a half-sister to Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas and Grade 1 Garden City Stakes winner Samitar (Rock Of Gibraltar) who is the dam of the Group III winning Deep Impact colt Danon Chaser who was fourth in the Group 1 NHK Mile at Tokyo.

Sixties Groove becomes the 13th stakes-winner for the Group 1 St Leger winner Sixties Icon (Galileo).

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