Gringotts is likely to be Ciaron Maher’s sole representative in The Gong as Saturday racing next weekend again heads outside of the Sydney area to Kembla Grange.
Maher has created plenty of history of his own through his training career but there would not be many ‘double-doubles’ among them.
That is what Gringotts could achieve should he salute in the 1600m $1 million Group 3 event.
Victory in the The Big Dance (1600m) last year followed by The Gong have the signs there again after the six-year-old was able to snag The Big Dance for a second time on Melbourne Cup Day a fortnight ago.
“He’s come out of The Big Dance super,” Maher said.
“He’s probably in career best form.”
Maher added that Gringott’s main aim over the spring was the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) but the setbacks with blood readings turned attention back to The Big Dance.
Gringotts is rated the $2.50 favourite for The Gong while other stablemates nominated including Vivy Air who heads to Perth and 2024 Caulfield Cup winner Duke De Sessa will be sent for a break.
After finishing second to Gringotts in The Big Dance then winning the Listed Five Diamonds (1800m) four days later, Vivy Air will take on the $1.5 million Northerly Stakes (1800m) at Ascot on December 6.
Vivy Air is rated a $15 chance for The Pinnacles‘ day four highlight.
A decision is yet to be made on whether Lugh, who finished third in The Big Dance and saw Maher trifecta the race, will also take his place in The Gong.
“He felt the run in The Big Dance and we are still leaving the door open for him to start with Gringotts but a decision is still to come,” Maher’s national assistant Jack Turnbull said.
