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.
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).
