The punters were spot on as the strong favourite, Gringotts, dominated The Gong, turning it into a one-sided affair.
With this victory, the Maher stable now sets its sights on an unprecedented treble, targeting The Ingham at Randwick next month.
“He was just better than them,” said Maher’s representative, Johann Gerard-Dubord, after Gringotts claimed the $1 million The Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange, following his $2 million triumph in The Big Dance on November 5.
“The way he is going now, and knowing there’s more to come, he’s a horse that doesn’t mind a bit of give in the track, yet he won on a fast track today,” Gerard-Dubord added.
Initially, The Big Dance was meant to be Gringotts’ grand finale this preparation.
However, after just three runs and signs that he had more to give, the stable decided to push on to Kembla Grange.
“His first-up run was very soft, but he was unlucky,” Gerard-Dubord noted, referring to Gringotts’ second-place finish in the Group 3 Bill Ritchie Stakes (1400m) on September 21.
“He came through The Big Dance very well, and a race like this is hard to bypass. While he’s going well, it’s hard to stop.”
Indeed, they won’t stop, with the five-year-old set to compete again in the Group 2 The Ingham (1600m) at Randwick on December 13.
For jockey Tommy Berry, winning on Gringotts carried an extra layer of significance due to his personal connection to the region.
“I’m getting a bit emotional because I cut my teeth in this area,” Berry said. “I’ve got a lot of friends and family from down this way.
“I think he’s better than I thought he was. He toyed with them, even carrying 60 kilos. He spotted the horse out wider (Suparazi) when I did, and then he just put the afterburners on.”
Gringotts, who firmed from $5 into $2.60 as the race-day favourite, won by just under a length over the $26 chance Suparazi, with the rejuvenated Steparty ($7.50) finishing third.
“I know we’ve had some tricky gates, but I don’t know if I can take too much credit. He’s a very easy horse to ride,” Berry added.
Territory Express ($7) lost all chance at the start, stumbling out of the gates and ultimately finishing 11th, seven lengths behind the winner.
