As Ciaron Maher prepares Gringotts for a Big Dance three-peat, a stablemate who placed behind him in last year’s $3 million showpiece will be bidding to end his season on a winning note at Randwick.
Gringotts was second in a Gosford barrier trial on Wednesday, his first public appearance since finishing fourth to budding superstar Sheza Alibi in the Doncaster Mile (1600m) in April.
“The trial couldn’t have been any better. He seems to have come back very well,” Maher’s assistant trainer, Jo Gerard-Dubord said.
“He will have a second trial and at this stage we’re likely to start him in the Winx Stakes and work towards the Big Dance.
“He’s won it for the last two years, and he will get the same weight.”
Third behind Gringotts and fellow barn mate Vivy Air in the 2025 Big Dance (1600m), Lugh returns to a mile for the first time since then in Saturday’s ATC Thank You Trainers Handicap (1600m).
With the benefit of two recent runs – a first-up third to Cool Jakey over 1300m and last start fourth to Mickey’s Medal over 1400m – Lugh is expected to be hard to beat.
“The other day he just raced like a horse who wants further,” Gerard-Dubord said.
“When they picked up and quickened, he looked like he was going to drop off, then late he was coming back again.
“With the extra run under his belt and stepping up to a mile, he’s ready to run a big race.”
Still lightly exposed, Lugh has won five of his 11 starts and Gerard-Dubord says connections are keen to have him back at Randwick for a Melbourne Cup day feature this year.
“I’d love to get him to a Big Dance or Little Dance. He’s a gelding and he’s got a rating where he can get into those big prizemoney races,” he said.
The stable will also saddle up Rock Empire in the race, the gelding making his debut for the yard with a closing sixth over 1200m at Rosehill on July 4.
With a lack of suitable alternatives, he will rise 400m in journey, but Gerard-Dubord reports he is fit and pleasing the team at home.
