ONE TO WATCH: GRINZINGER KING
The Danny O’Brien-trained Grinzinger King came at a cost of more than double that of the next highest-priced yearling by his sire Domesday, so the pressure was on from the start.
Three years before Grinzinger King exited the ring at the 2020 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale after O’Brien had the final say at $380,000, the Domesday colts full-brother made $100,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Named Extra Brut, he was pretty much a star from day one.
Following a debut second at Geelong, Extra brut reeled off wins at Sandown, Caulfield and Flemington, where he captured the Listed UDI stakes.
After a hiccup in the Group III Norman Robertson Stakes, Extra Brut powered to victory in the 2018 Group 1 Victoria Derby.
Following a third behind Trap For Fools and Latrobe (IRE) in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes, Extra Brut was done for the season.
When he did not capture that form in three starts the following autumn, Extra Brut was sold to Hong Kong, where he met an unfortunate demise on the walking machine.
At his career debut over 1400m at Flemington in May, Grinzinger King deflated hopes when he tailed off last, over 14-lengths behind the winner Blushing Tycoon.
Off the scene for 15-weeks, the son of Domesday scored a fighting long-head win over the short-priced favourite Gundec (Kermadec) in Sunday’s 1512m maiden at Geelong. The winner’s stablemate Kapalua Sunset (Tavistock) a further one and a quarter length back in third.
Like Extra Brut, Grinzinger King was bred by Andrew McDonald and consigned by Stonehouse Thoroughbreds.
They are out of the well-performed Redoute’s Choice mare Dom Perion, a $200,000 Magic Millions Yearling in 2007.
When Dom Perion came on the market at the 2015 Inglis Great Southern Sale, she had two foals that had yet to the reach the track, and it took a bid of just $6,000 for McDonald to take her home.
Dom Perion was carrying Extra Brut at the time of her sale. The future Victoria Derby winner was consigned to the 2016 Great Southern Sale, where he was pinhooked by Grange Thoroughbreds’ Gary Mudgway for $52,000.
Sent to the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Extra Brut made $100,000 to the Bid of Brad Spicer of Spicer Thoroughbreds.
The Dom Perion story took a further leap forward this year.
Paul Moroney Bloodstock / M Moroney purchased her Toronado (IRE) colt for $460,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, while Sledmere Stud/Cangon Pty Ltd went to $280,000 to secure Dom Perion’s Justify (USA) filly at the Gold Coast National Weanling Sale.
The $6,000 daughter of Redoute’s Choice is back in foal to Lonhro.
Story by Mark Smith for Breednet.com.au
Pic by Racing Photos