After Daisies flagged her Oaks credentials in the Ethereal Stakes, Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr look to have another Classic contender in the Victoria Derby-bound Gunstock following his strong-finishing win in the Group III Caulfield Classic (2000m).
Sent off favourite following his third to El Patroness in the Super Impose Stakes, Gunstock turned the tables on his conqueror there.
Ridden by Jye McNeil, the son of Tavistock defeated the Shamus Award filly El Patroness by one and three-quarter lengths with the Dundeel gelding Teewaters a length back in third.
“He wants further and a big track. Blinkers on today and he didn’t overdo it which is good,” Kent said.
“From an inside draw, Jye got a lovely spot. I’ve always liked this horse. A beautiful colt and hopefully we can get him to the Derby.
“It was the right time to do it because he’s going to go up in distance a fair bit now to the Derby. Today we were going to have a look and see if they worked. They do work for this breed a lot.
“He’s a very laid-back customer. I saw him in the yard there and he was almost half asleep. He’s got a huge stride and Flemington will be his go.
“We were a bit unsure coming in. He worked and trialled on soft and heavy we weren’t so sure he loved it, so I think he’ll be better on top of the ground.
An $80,000 pinhook by Ohukia Lodge from the Cambridge Stud draft from Book 1 at Karaka, Gunstock made $135,000 to the bid of Import Racing at the 2020 Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale.
A brother to the Group II ATC Phar Lap Stakes and Group II Carbine Club Stakes runner-up The Irishman, Gunstock is out of the unraced Zabeel mare Zeranti is out of a half-sister to stakes-winner Snapshots and Express a Smile the dam of triple Group 1 winner Sea siren, Group III winner and successful sire Oratorio (AUS) and Listed winner Discord.
DGR Thoroughbred Services and Snowden Racing outlaid $200,000 for a brother to Gunstock a the 2021 NZB Karaka Book 1 Yearling Sale.
Zeranti was covered by Belardo (IRE) last spring.
Gunstock becomes the 32nd stakes-winner for Cambridge Stud’s late Montjeu stallion Tavistock.
