Grunt
O’Reilly (NZ) x Ruqqaya (NZ), by Van Nistelrooy (USA)
2014
16.2hh
FEE: $22,000
FOUNDATION STALLION GRUNT
From his first-crop runners, Grunt has already unearthed a stallion prospect of his own in the Yulong-bred Gr.1 winner Veight.
The brilliant juvenile became his sire’s first winner when bursting onto the scene with a six-length maiden win in February, before a dominant success in the Gr.2 Sires’ Produce S. at Flemington one month later. The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained colt has been one of the best three-year-olds of his generation, winning the Gr.1 WFA George Ryder S. at Rosehill following placings in the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas and Gr.1 Australian Guineas.
With smart wins from Rhythm Of Love, Our Cracklin Rosie and Akicita, and given the improvement that Grunt himself made with age, there is plenty of excitement around this young stallion as crops emerge from Yulong’s elite mares.
Purchased from the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for NZ$220,000 by Cameron Cooke Bloodstock and trainer Mick Price, Grunt himself made a quick impression on the track.
Having only the one two-year-old outing, placing third to eventual Gr.1 winner Aloisia, Grunt broke his maiden impressively at the beginning of his second campaign when starting a four-race winning streak. Showing his talent, his third victory was in the Gr.3 C S Hayes Stakes, defeating Cliff’s Edge and Embellish.
This campaign culminated with a tenacious victory in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas, in only his fifth career start.
Damien Oliver was effusive in his praise for Grunt post-victory, “he’s a magnificent specimen of a horse and he deserved a really strong Gr.1 win like that today.”
Grunt returned as a four-year-old to impressively win the Gr.1 Makybe Diva in 2018 by two lengths at Flemington, beating eight Gr.1 winners in the process.
Grunt retired with a Timeform rating of 123 as a four-year-old, ranking him as elite among his generation.
“An outstanding individual and brilliant 1600m horse. Grunt had an excellent temperament and I think he will make a great stallion,” said Mick Price.
Grunt’s first crop of yearlings were presented at the 2022 yearling sale and were immediately popular. At the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale they totalled an impressive $1,480,500. Five of the 15 offered made six figures and sold to leading trainers such as Ciaron Maher & David Eustace, Graeme Begg, Freedman Racing, Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott and Danny O’Brien Racing.
It was a similar story the following year, with his second crop selling up to $340,000 across Australia’s premier yearling sales.
As Yulong’s foundation sire, Grunt offers Australian breeders a valuable proven outcross to Danehill-line mares, capable of producing an attractive sales type alongside a tough and progressive racing prospect.
Performance
Facts
- Dual Gr.1-winning miler by Champion stallion O’Reilly (NZ)
- Winner of the Gr.1 Australian Guineas at three, then took out the Gr.1 Makybe Diva S. at four, like turf legends Zabeel (NZ) and Mahogany
- Retired with a Timeform rating of 123 as a four-year-old, ranking him as elite among his generation
- Yearlings sold for $350,000, $340,000, $220,000, $205,000 etc in 2023
- The first stallion in over a decade to sire a WFA Gr.1-winning three-year-old in their first crop, with Yulong-bred Veight taking out the Gr.1 George Ryder S.
Race record
Age |
Runs |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
Earned |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | – | – | 1 | $9,000 |
| 3 | 4 | 4 | – | – | $728,250 |
| 4 | 7 | 1 | – | – | $645,200 |
| Totals | 12 | 5 | 0 | 1 | $1,382,450 |
at 2
3rd VRC Saintly Hall of Fame 2YO Trophy (1400m)
at 3
VRC Australian Guineas, Gr.1 (1600m)
CS Hayes S., Gr.3 (1400m)
SAJC Holdfast Insurance H. (1600m)
Werribee RC Winning Edge Presentations Maiden P. (1400m)
Timeform Rating: 122 (in 2017)
AT 4
VRC Makybe Diva S., Gr.1 (1600m)
Timeform Rating: 123 (in 2018)
TOP PRICED YEARLINGS
Media
Grunt
Bred to Win
featuring Grunt
Grunt winning the 2018 G1 Makybe Diva S.
Grunt winning the 2018 G1 Australian Guineas
Pedigree
Grunt’s Leading Progeny
VEIGHT (20c, Fastnet Rock, Miesque’s Son). 5 wins from 1200m to 1500m, A$2,017,740, 1st ATC George Ryder S., Gr.1, MVRC Australia S., Gr.2, VRC Sires’ Produce, Gr.2, MRC HDF McNeil S., Gr.3, 2nd MRC Caulfield Guineas, Gr.1, VRC Australian Guineas, Gr.1, 4th ATC Sires’ Produce S., Gr.1, MRC CF Orr S., Gr.1
MIRAVAL ROSE (20f, Zabeel, End Sweep). 2 wins from 1115m to 1400m, A$191,100, 1st MRC Twilight Glow S., L, 2nd MRC Thoroughbred Club S., Gr.3
Rhythm of Love (20g, Not a Single Doubt, Cherokee Run). 2 wins from 1200m to 1250m, A$120,250, 1st ATC James Squire H., 2nd ATC TAB 2YO H., ATC John Ramsay 40 Year’s Service H., ATC James Squire H., 3rd ATC South Pacific Classic, L
Siberian Siren (20f, Lonhro, Palace Music). Winner at 1000m, A$84,805, 1st WATC Quayclean H., 2nd Pinjarra RC Magic Millions WA 3YO Trophy (R), L, WATC Amelia Park P.
Our Cracklin Rosie (20f, Commands, Bin Ajwaad). 3 wins at 1000m, A$204,765, 1st MVRC Centec Security Group H., MVRC Legacy Centenary H., 3rd MVRC Summer Membership on Sale Now H.
Dragoon (20g, Commands, Singspiel). Winner at 1600m, A$63,435, 1st MVRC Alinta Energy Maiden P., 2nd MRC Welcome to Sandown Maiden P.
Etincelle (20g, Testa Rossa, Danehill). Winner at 1200m, A$31,465, 1st MRC IVE Maiden P.
Cinematic Star (20f, Dane Shadow, Success Express). 2 wins at 1000m, A$40,600
Last Supper (20g, Street Cry, Pulpit). 2 wins at 1200m, A$93,454, 4th Singapore TC Singapore 3YO Sprint, L
Magic Stella (20f, Fastnet Rock, Redding). 2 wins from 1200m to 1460m, A$45,950
Mihoko Takeo (20f, Street Cry, Invincible Spirit). Winner at 1150m, A$25,020
Savee (20f, Redoute’s Choice, More Than Ready). Winner at 1100m, A$47,555
Ellessthree (20f, Ali-Royal, Gold Carat). Winner at 1200m, A$35,275
Akicita (20c, Not a Single Doubt, Encosta de Lago). Winner at 1100m, A$38,250, 2nd MRC Ladbrokes Hub H.
Chanchos (20g, Husson, Danehill). Winner at 2000m
Be Brave (20f, Fastnet Rock, Nadeem). Winner at 1600m, A$26,600
Dancer for Money (21f, Savabeel, Senor Pete). Winner at 1130m, A$14,850
Grunt Brochure
News
