David Brideoake’s decision to accept into the field of the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) with his stable star has paid dividends this afternoon as Griante charged home to post a maiden win at the highest level via a devastating late turn of foot.
Griante produced a typically smart performance to win The Galaxy at Rosehill Gardens this afternoon. Photo: Steve Hart
Griante received absolutely no luck when twelfth in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) first-up but immediately put herself in a position to perform when flying the gates this afternoon and settling in a good position on the rails.
Jockey Craig Williams elected to pull the daughter of Good Journey out rounding onto the final straight and was a enger as the mare spotted the finishing post and charged clear of her rivals; maintaining a strong enough sprint to beat home a fast finishing Shiraz and Dothraki.
Williams delivered a typically smart performance aboard Griante to win The Galaxy and was quick to lay all the praise on the quality of the mare and David Brideoake’s training performance in the success.
“My manager Mark Guest gets a lot of pats on the back because he earmarked her for me after her last start,” Williams said.
“I have to thank all of my group and of course David Brideoake and all of his team for preparing her really well.
“She was actually a bit cheeky because she spotted the winning post and got there really easy and all I was trying to do was keep her mind on the job.
“I thought wow, that was pretty easy but I was confident that if she got a start she would deliver. She was awesome today.”
Brideoake was thrilled with Griante’s maiden Group 1 triumph in The Galaxy but revealed he is yet to settle on a next point of call for the mare this time.
“She’s a very good mare and everything’s gone to plan,” Brideoake said.
“She had no luck in the Oakleigh Plate and we’ve seen a new side of this mare over the last twelve months where she can actually sit back and finish on and she’s really done it today. She’s got a great sprint.
“I’ll have to compose myself, so it might take a day or two. By the end of the week we’ll work it all out.”
In taking out The Galaxy 2016, Griante has now posted a commendable seven wins and eight minors through twenty-seven career starts.
Punters who backed Griante to win the 2016 The Galaxy with Ladbrokes.com.au have been paid out on generous $18 odds!
2016 The Galaxy Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 | GRIANTE | David Brideoake | Craig Williams | – | 1 | 51kg | $16 |
| 2 | 9 | SHIRAZ | Tony McEvoy | Brett Prebble | 0.8L | 10 | 54kg | $14 |
| 3 | 7 | DOTHRAKI | Peter & Paul Snowden | Blake Shinn | 1.3L | 6 | 55kg | $12 |
| 4 | 13 | FELL SWOOP | Matthew Dale | Brenton Avdulla | 1.5L | 8 | 52.5kg | $5EF |
| 5 | 10 | BOUNDING | Peter & Paul Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 2L | 7 | 53.5kg | $7.50 |
| 6 | 14 | ENGLISH | Gai Waterhouse | Tommy Berry | 3.5L | 14 | 51kg | $7 |
| 7 | 12 | BOSS LANE | Ron Quinton | Sam Clipperton | 4L | 2 | 52.5kg | $26 |
| 8 | 6 | BALL OF MUSCLE | Joseph Pride | Tim Clark | 4.3L | 9 | 55kg | $13 |
| 9 | 2 | TERRAVISTA | Joseph Pride | Hugh Bowman | 4.5L | 3 | 58kg | $5EF |
| 10 | 3 | REBEL DANE | Gary Portelli | Damien Oliver | 4.6L | 13 | 56.5kg | $18 |
| 11 | 5 | FAMOUS SEAMUS (NZ) | Noel Mayfield-Smith | James McDonald | 5.3L | 11 | 55.5kg | $51 |
| 12 | 15 | PITTSBURGH FLYER | Lee & Shannon Hope | Craig Newitt | 6.1L | 4 | 51kg | $21 |
| 13 | 11 | LUMOSTY | Robert Smerdon | Ms Kathy O’Hara | 9.3L | 12 | 52.5kg | $26 |
| 14 | 8 | LORD OF THE SKY | Robbie Laing | Zac Purton | 14.4L | 5 | 54.5kg | $21 |
