The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Griff showed plenty of greenness in his Group 1 debut but, despite a dramatic finish, proved too good for his rivals in the Group 1 $3 million Neds Caulfield Guineas (1600m).
2023 Caulfield Guineas winner Griff was wayward late but still very good taking out the Group 1 mile event. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Trapeze Artist colt fired up out of the gates for jockey Ben Melham leading from barrier to box to beat home Veight by one and three-quarter lengths in the mile feature in Melbourne.
Third in the Caulfield Guineas trifecta when to the previously unbeaten Steparty coming off a win in the Prelude, which Veight had run fifth in.
Veight and his hoop Damian Lane were thrown off their line a few times over the closing stages by the wayward Griff, but trainers Tony & Calvin McEvoy opted not to lodge a protest after reviewing the tape.
“Obviously there was a bit of interference towards the end of the race, and just with respect to the owners of the horse and the punters, we went down to have a look at the film and decided not to throw in a protest,” co-trainer Calvin McEvoy told Racing.com.
“It was probably too close to the line, which was unfortunate as there was quite a bit of interference, but it probably needed to be further away from the winning post to be overturned.”
The challenge was on when Steparty peeled out three-wide approaching the turn to move up to Griff, but the eventual winner gave a strong kick at the furlong.
He spotted something to the side of the track with a few strides to go and made a sharp right turn, but his winning margin was too good to take much away from the up-and-comer.
“He began exceptionally well. When he began in the matter that he did, he rolled across and got across so easy,” Melham said.
“A really courageous effort by the horse. There he is now a Caulfield Guineas winner.”
Griff made it three straight wins with his Guineas triumph and two over the 1600m following a lead-up Group 2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) win at The Valley.
He became the first horse since Whobegotyou 15 years earlier to do the Stutt Stakes – Caulfield Guineas double.
“I think he obviously showed a little bit of greenness, but he got a beautiful ride by Ben,” co-trainer David Eustace said.
“He’s just kept improving and improving.
“He hasn’t put a foot wrong (since coming down to Victoria).
“Got in pretty easily and just judged it perfectly.
“He’s got a bright future the horse because he’s still furnishing.”
2023 Caulfield Guineas Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | GRIFF | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Ben Melham | 15 | 57kg | $31 | |||
| 2 | 5 | VEIGHT | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | Damian Lane | 1.75L | 1 | 57kg | $14 | ||
| 3 | 4 | STEPARTY | Paul Preusker | John Allen | 2.75L | 7 | 57kg | $3.70 | ||
| 4 | 3 | KING COLORADO | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Michael Dee | 3.5L | 8 | 57kg | $13 | ||
| 5 | 1 | MILITARIZE (NZ) | Chris Waller | Joao Moreira | 4.25L | 12 | 57kg | $2.60F | ||
| 6 | 11 | VERDAD | Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | Beau Mertens | 4.35L | 14 | 57kg | $21 | ||
| 7 | 7 | SCHEELITE | Ken & Kasey Keys | Mark Zahra | 4.85L | 13 | 57kg | $14 | ||
| 8 | 2 | LITTLE BROSE | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Damien Oliver | 4.95L | 10 | 57kg | $61 | ||
| 9 | 9 | SOUTHPORT TYCOON | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Harry Coffey | 5.7L | 4 | 57kg | $21 | ||
| 10 | 8 | SCENTIFY | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Ben Allen | 6.7L | 5 | 57kg | $14 | ||
| 11 | 10 | WOLFY (NZ) | Nick Ryan | Blake Shinn | 8.95L | 11 | 57kg | $16 | ||
| 12 | 12 | ROCK EMPIRE | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 9.25L | 3 | 57kg | $61 | ||
| 13 | 13 | LIMBURG | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Jye McNeil | 9.65L | 9 | 57kg | $201 | ||
| 14 | 14 | COPACABANA | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Jordan Childs | 9.85L | 6 | 57kg | $201 | ||
| 15 | 15 | THE LONGEST YARD | Matthew Brown | Brian Higgins | 11.1L | 2 | 57kg | $301 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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