Racing
Take three for Gringotts in Alan Brown Stakes
George Ryder Stakes winner Gringotts has had a spring carnival reset.
Gringotts will be on a mission to put an interrupted campaign back on track when he takes his place in the $1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes at Rosehill.
The Group 1 winner has missed scheduled starts in the 7 Stakes (1600m) and Shannon Stakes (1500m), both times due to poor blood readings, although trainer Ciaron Maher says they have been the result of a mild virus rather than anything sinister.
"There are a lot of viruses around this year and it was just unfortunate that he got one," Maher said.
"But he seems good now. You never really know where you're at with that sort of thing but it should be a nice race for him to kick off.
"He could even end up in the Big Dance."
Gringotts was being aimed towards the King Charles III Stakes (1600m) on Saturday week but the missed runs have all but forced Maher into a campaign pivot with the gelding's new potential target, the Big Dance (1600m), at Randwick on Melbourne Cup day.
Golden Slipper winner Marhoona will be one of the major drawcards on Saturday when she makes her second appearance of the spring in the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m).
The filly resumed with a gritty win in the Heritage Stakes (1100m) last month and is being geared towards the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) down the Flemington straight course.
"The Roman Consul and then ideally, if she is in form, we go to Melbourne for the Coolmore," trainer Michael Freedman said.
"She has come through her first-up run really well. She was a little bit ring rusty the other day but she has definitely lit up since then."
The Roman Consul has become a pivotal lead-up to the Coolmore Stud Stakes with Switzerland (2024), Brazen Beau (2014) and Zoustar (2013) all capturing the double in recent years.
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