A poor blood reading ruled Gringotts out of the 7 Stakes but the timing of his revamped program might work out even better.
Ciaron Maher scratched the George Ryder Stakes winner from last week’s Randwick assignment when routine tests showed his blood count to be slightly askew of normal.
Assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord said the horse could still have run but they took the safer option and saved him for this weekend’s Shannon Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill instead.
“There wasn’t much to it but in the middle of a preparation we didn’t want to take the risk,” Gerard-Dubord said.
“He actually galloped (Saturday) morning in an easy piece of work.
“We will take his bloods (this week) and if that’s right he will be taking his place on Saturday and it will be three weeks into a King Charles III Stakes which will work very well.”
A Group 1 winner over Saturday’s course and distance in the autumn, Gringotts heads into Saturday’s race a month between runs after resuming with a solid fifth to Via Sistina on a heavy track in the Winx Stakes (1400m).
He has posted a subsequent barrier trial victory at Wyong and Gerard-Dubord is happy the horse is in good order.
“He is going very well and his first-up run was good. He just had to make his run a bit earlier than usual on that very heavy track,” he said.
“He will strip fitter and I’m looking forward to him getting back to the races.”
Stablemate Juja Kibo will be given a chance to press his claims for a start in the Metropolitan (2400m) when he lines up in the Colin Stephen Quality (2400m).
The winner of three of his past four starts, the lightly raced stayer is enjoying a breakout campaign and Gerard-Dubord sees no reason he can’t keep it going.
“He’s very fit and he will be dropping in weight so we’ll give him his chance,” he said.
“If he happened to win it or run well, he could back-up in a ‘Metrop’ a week later.”
