Gringotts chasing Big Dance hat-trick
Champion jockey Nash Rawiller is confident Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto) can create history with a third consecutive victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick, particularly if rain arrives ahead of the feature.
The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding has made the lucrative race his own over the past two years, overcoming barrier 19 and 58.5kg in 2024 before successfully defending his crown under 62kg last year.
Another victory would take the New Zealand-bred son of Per Incanto beyond A$8 million in career earnings, with A$6.2 million already in the bank.
Although Gringotts has been winless since claiming The Gong (1600m) for the second time last November, Rawiller believes the seven-year-old remains a formidable force.
“He’s been really well placed but he’s a bit of a freak in the way he can carry weight and things like that, not many horses can do it,” Rawiller told Racing NSW.
“I don’t know if you can say he’s going as well as ever but he is going well.”
Gringotts has faced some of Australia’s best gallopers this preparation, including unbeaten superstar Autumn Glow in his first two spring appearances.
He finished third in the Gr.1 Winx Stakes (1400m) before tackling Autumn Glow again in the Seven Sunrise (1600m), where he finished last of five after attempting to apply pressure to the favourite.
The gelding subsequently finished midfield in the Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) three weeks ago, beaten just 1¾ lengths after enduring a wide passage.
Rawiller believes there were excuses for that performance and is hopeful a more favourable barrier draw and some give in the ground will help Gringotts return to his best.
“He’s just had no luck in his last couple,” Rawiller said.
“He was caught very wide last time and with the big weight he was made to carry it the whole way. I thought he battled on really well.
“I think a bit of rain would really take him to a level he probably hasn’t reached this prep.”
Gringotts was rated a $3.40 favourite on Sunday as he attempts to become the first horse to win three editions of the Big Dance.
Bred by Totara Park Stud, Gringotts is by Little Avondale Stud’s outstanding sire Per Incanto out of the unraced Savabeel mare Miss Bluebell.
His pedigree features a notable connection to champion mare Winx, with Miss Bluebell being a daughter of Operavega, a half-sister to Winx's dam Vegas Showgirl.
Miss Bluebell has produced two stakes performers from three foals to race, including the seven-time winner Millefiori, who placed in the Listed Great Easter Stakes for Te Akau Racing. Another full-brother to Gringotts, Dan Vegas, was sold to Hong Kong.
Gringotts was offered by Archer Park at the 2021 NZB National Yearling Sale at Karaka, where he was purchased by Kasa Bloodstock for $100,000.
He returned to the sales ring at the NZB Ready to Run Sale later that year but failed to meet his $450,000 reserve.
The gelding was subsequently sold privately after winning a trial at Waipa for trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander, before embarking on a highly successful Australian career under Maher, where he races in the colours of a syndicate headed by prominent owner Ozzie Kheir.
