Griante only snuck into The Galaxy following the scratchings of Flamberge and Our Boy Malachi, but she took advantage of the opportunity to record a maiden Group 1 victory at Rosehill Gardens this afternoon.
Griante scored her first Group 1 victory with an impressive performance in The Galaxy at Rosehill Gardens this afternoon. Photo by: Steve Hart
Griante was set to run in the Group 3 Birthday Card Stakes at Rosehill Gardens, but she received her opportunity in The Galaxy and connections were keen to take advantage of the opportunity to run in a Group 1 event after she finished a luckless 12th in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield.
There were a dozen of winning chances at the top of the straight, but it was Griante that finished the strongest and she held off Shiraz and Dothraki to claim the biggest win of her racing career to date.
Craig Williams timed his ride to perfection on Griante in The Galaxy, but he was quick to pay credit to the training performance of David Brideoake as well as the advice he received in the lead-up to the race from Steven Arnold.
“I need to thank all my support team, David Brideoake for preparing her so well and also a special mention to Steven Arnold,” Williams said.
“Without his advice with her today I wouldn’t have got the job done and he told me everything about her because this is his horse, but because it is a light weight I was able to ride her today.
“She is actually a bit cheeky because she spotted the winning post and got there really easy, but all I wanted to do was try and keep her mind on the job.”
The victory of Griante was the first Group 1 win for David Brideoake and he was delighted to see his star mare finally show just how good she is at the highest level of racing.
Brideoake is unsure whether Griante will remain in Sydney for The Championships and he said that he will let the dust settle before he maps out a future path with the daughter of Good Journey.
“She is a very good mare and everything has gone to plan,” Brideoake said.
“We had no luck in the Oakleigh Plate and we have seen a new side of this mare in the last 12 months – she can actually sit back and finish on.
“She has really done it today and she has a great sprint.
“I will have to compose myself and it might take a day or two.
“There is a bit going on and by the end of the week we will work all that out.”
English and Terravista were both well-backed in the lead-up to The Galaxy, but neither were able to factor in the finish, while Fell Swoop could finish no better than fourth.
