Going into the race with a career record of just four starts, which had yielded three wins, Grunt went to the gates as the second favourite after winning the Gr3 CS Hayes Stakes at his previous start and after a superb Damien Oliver ride he sustained a determined drive to beat Peaceful State (Animal Kingdom x Weekend Beauty) by a half length with Bring Me Roses (High Chaparral x Freckled face) third.
Grunt wins the Australian Guineas. Photo Grant Courtney.
"He's a magnificent specimen of a horse and deserved a really strong Group One like that today," said Oliver.
Price suggested after the race he may bring the colt to Sydney but might also call time on the current campaign.
"The only race I'd go to Sydney for is the Rosehill Guineas but I might also put him out.
"He's a beautiful big Flemington horse with a great set of lungs.
"He's not light but he's not furnished yet. I don't know if he's a got a trip to Sydney in him yet."
"He's going to get 2000 metres, maybe a mile and a half. He might even get two miles."
Grunt is by O'Reilly out of the Van Nistelrooy mare Raqqaya, a winning half-sister to Cox Plate winner and Australasia's champion middle distance horse of 2013, Ocean Park.
He was a $220,000 purchase for Price and Cameron Cooke Bloodstock from the Trelawney Stud draft at the 2016 NZB Premier Yearling Sale.
He represents a fantastic pedigree update too for his half-brother by Savabeel which is set to be offered by Trelawney at the Inglis Easter Sale as Lot 337.
