Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Dirty Grin collected his third win from four starts in this preparation with a come-from-behind victory at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
The five-year-old son of Zacinto came into this campaign with two wins to his name in a 14-start career. He has had a change of scenery this year with a move from Simon Zahra’s stable into the care of Nick Ryan, and Dirty Grin hasn’t looked back.
He kicked off his preparation with a Benchmark 64 victory over 1110m at Benalla on February 16, followed by a 1200m success in the same grade at Echuca on March 9. Dirty Grin stepped up to city class with a third in a Benchmark 70 handicap at Sandown on March 26, then went two better at The Valley on Saturday.
Ridden by Rhys McLeod, Dirty Grin settled well off the pace in third-last before swooping around the outside of the field in a big move before the home turn.
Dirty Grin straightened for home in a close and threatening third position, then outfinished Verdoux and Bold Response down the straight to score a stylish win.
“We thought there would be good pace in this race on paper, and it turned out that way, but we got quite a way off them,” McLeod said.
“For him to get back into the race, he actually had to do quite a bit of work to do it, so it was a good, strong win.
“Nick is training him well, has placed him well and is getting the best out of this horse in this campaign.”
Dirty Grin has now had 17 starts for five wins, seven placings and $162,915 in stakes.
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