George Ryder Stakes winner Gringotts had Group 1 ambitions this spring, instead of racing at the top level, he won $2 million taking the road less travelled.
Ciaron Maher had to take a step back with Gringotts because of poor bloods early in the preparation, but he is now a two-time winner of the Big Dance and The Gong.
At Kembla Grange on Saturday, Nash Rawiller stuck to the inside and class told as he beat Estadio Mestalla by a half length with New Endeavour another two lengths away in third.
THE PUNTERS PAL DOES IT AGAIN 👑
Gringotts adds another Gong to his huge trophy cabinet! What a win and what a ride by Nash Rawiller 🤝@nashhot @cmaherracing pic.twitter.com/sJBtUbeOyv
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) November 22, 2025
“What a beauty. God, he’s a good horse,” Maher said.
“I think he is in career best form. I know he’s won a Ryder, but I reckon he is in better form this preparation.”
“He was dominant last start (in the Big Dance) and he was quite dominant today and because we missed a couple of races early in the prep he is still on the up.”
Rawiler told Maher of his plan to stay to the inside before the race and it proved the difference.
“Nash, I think he said he walked the track four times, and he was keen to stay in, which, you know, I was like, right-o,” Maher said.
“He had a lot of faith in the horse. I was keen for Nash to stick with him. And he’s just a beauty. He puts himself on speed, he makes his own luck. He’s just a trainer, an owner’s dream horse.”
“Any conditions, any track, he’s just a ripper.”
Rawiller thought he had the The Gong in hand at the 100m mark, even though he had not hit the front.
“If I wasn’t confident, I wouldn’t have done it,” Rawiller said.
“You’ve got to back your judgement.”
“I’ve got to be honest. I was worried at the hundred (metres). I thought, geez, I haven’t put them away. But I hadn’t really gone for him either.”
