He is in a purple patch of form of late and the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained galloper Grebeni ($3.10F) has won again in a tradesman-like display.
After winning the Goulburn Cup on November 5, the Ocean Park gelding then disappointed in the Group 3 Festival Stakes at Rosehill when sixth – but has since gone bang bang with consecutive Royal Randwick victories, picking up $280,000 in earnings for connections across the four-race stretch.
Saturday’s win came by half a length over a gallant Riyazan ($21) who had to do a lot of work wide without cover during the run. Sky Lab ($9) was a further length back in third place after making up steady ground from the tail of the field.
Jockey Kerrin Mcevoy, who has been on board for the past four starts, is starting to build up a fruitful relationship with the four-year-old.
“He’s a nice big horse and he’s lovely to ride,” McEvoy beamed.
“He’s got a good attitude and Gerald and Sterling have been happy with him.
“The start was key today, we made sure we hoofed him out and we were in a dominant spot where he was able to travel nice. We had the drop on them and he did the rest.”
When quizzed about the perfect distance for his mount, McEvoy believes today’s mile journey is ideal.
“I know he won over 1800m early in his career, but that was a day where they went quite slow,” McEvoy said.
“I think the mile is his trip, but it’s hard to put him in a basket at the moment because he has won over a little bit further.”
There were plenty of connections on course to celebrate the victory and co-trainer Ryan was mindful of letting them have their moment.
“I stayed away,” Ryan grinned.
“They love it, they enjoy it. They let us do what we want with it.
“We just bought him when he was passed in at the sales and Tim (Boland) said he has got some mates. I think he’s got 50 mates in it.”
