Blake Shinn made it three wins in the first four races on Caulfield Guineas Day when finding a narrow seam to capture the Listed Neds Village Stakes on Godolphin homebred Gravina.
The 5yo son of Sebring defeated Nicolini Vito (Nicconi) by a length with a long-neck back to the winner’s stablemate Zethus (Exceed And Excel), who was obliged to race three wide the trip from an outside barrier.
Fourth behind the exciting I Wish I Win in the Listed Testa Rosa Stakes at Sandown at his most recent start, Gravina advances his record to five wins, three seconds, and five thirds from 20 starts with earnings of $506,875.
Winning trainer James Cummings said Gravina had been building up to a win.
“Blake Shinn is riding beautifully,” Cummings said.
“He had the draw, drew 7 and Jamie Kah drew 14 on Zethus, but our third placegetter was just as big a run three deep outside the lead and both jockeys executed as well as they could from the draws.
“Hopefully, they just keep rising. There’s a sprint race at Flemington in Cup Week which is perfect for them. I just really love the way they’re both doing.”
A rare Godolphin homebred son of Sebring, Gravina is the best of two winners from four to race out of the Listed MRC Chairman's Stakes (1000m) winner Metastasio (Street Cry) whose half-sister Librettista (Elusive Quality) the dam of Listed winner and Grade 1-placed Frenzied (Yeats).
Metastasio’s unraced dam Libretto (Singspiel) is a half-sister to Group II winner Wareed (Sadler’s Wells) and the Group II EP Taylor Stakes winner Truly A Dream (Darshaan) and the stakes-placed Solo De Lune (Law Society).
Truly A Dream is the dam of Group II winner and dual Group 1 placed Dream Peace (Dansili) while Solo de Lune is the dam of the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Cerulean Sky (Darshaan) and the Group 1 Irish Oaks winner Moonstone (Dalakahni).
Metastasio has a 2yo filly by Ribchester (IRE) named Rhapzodise, and a yearling colt by Frosted (USA). She was covered by Bivouac last spring.
Gavina is the 79th stakes-winner for Sebring, who died at Widden Stud in February 2019.
