It was a series of ‘firsts’ when exciting colt Griff (Trapeze Artist) led his rivals a merry dance to score an all-the-way win in today’s stallion-making G1 Caulfield Guineas.
Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, today’s was a third consecutive Stakes victory for Griff who has remained undefeated since heading to Melbourne last month following two runs in Sydney to start his 3YO campaign.
Today’s win was a first at G1 level for Griff’s sire Trapeze Artist – who stands at Widden - and a first G1 result for Widden Victoria, to the delight of Antony Thompson.
“It’s such a big result for Widden Victoria, to breed and sell a G1 winner through what was our first draft at the Premier Sale since expanding into Victoria, it’s a real testament to what we’re doing in Victoria and a really proud moment for all of us,’’ Thompson said.
“It was such a good, strong win. It’s also fantastic for Trapeze Artist to really cement his place as such a star stallion of the future.
“We’ve always held him [Trapeze Artist] in enormous regard and we’re not at all surprised but it’s just lovely for him to do it early in the spring and it’s huge for [Trapeze Artist’s owner] Bert [Vieira].’’
Vieira watched today’s races from his home in Sydney and couldn’t hide his excitement when Griff raced away with the Guineas.
“It’s fabulous, he’s such a good stallion and I just knew this horse Griff was a G1 horse and could prove to everyone that Trapeze [Artist] was a star sire,’’ Vieira said.
“I couldn’t believe his price today, he had won two good races down in Melbourne before today and I knew he could do it. I feel so proud.’’
Griff – co-bred by Widden and Adrian Goonan - was an $80,000 Premier Yearling Sale purchase for Kavanagh Racing from the Widden draft.
He becomes the 84th G1-winning Inglis graduate since 2018 and 39th that could have been purchased for $100,000 or less in that same period.
Griff (pictured) led in a quinella for Inglis graduates in today’s Guineas with Veight for Tony and Calvin McEvoy finishing a gallant 2nd.
Winning co-trainer Ciaron Maher couldn’t believe Griff went around at $34.
“He was very quick out of the gates last time and a lot of people said that wasn’t the right form heading into the Guineas and he went around a crazy price as a result but we always thought he had the right form lines,’’ Maher said.
“It was an extraordinary performance. He was up here in Sydney and was running very well and since he’s been in Melbourne everything has gone right for him, the team has done a wonderful job and he’s now a Caulfield Guineas winner.’’
Griff became the third Inglis graduate to win the Caulfield Guineas in the past six years following earlier successes of Ole Kirk (2020) and The Autumn Sun (2018).
