Grunt returned to winning form as predicted by his trainer Mick Price, with an impressive victory in the 2018 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington this afternoon.
Grunt started his Spring Racing Carnival campaign with slightly flat efforts in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes and Memsie Stakes at Caulfield, but trainer Mick Price was always confident that the Australian Guineas winner would be at his best when he got to Flemington and that proved to be the case.
Damien Oliver gave Grunt a dream run in transit and the talented four-year-old finished over the top of Jon Snow and Black Heart Bart to score his second win at Group 1 level.
Godolphin's star sprinter turned miler Kementari was fourth and Black Heart Bart landed an 8th after being touted as the favourite for this race.
Price said that he now has plenty of options with Grunt and races like the Underwood Stakes, Turnbull Stakes, Ladbrokes Stakes, Ladbrokes Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup and even the Melbourne Cup are all on the agenda.
Kings Will Dream savaged the line once again to finish second behind Grunt and he remains on track for the Caulfield Cup.
Click here to watch winner race Makybe Diva Stakes 2018
1st Grunt (Mick Price, Damien Oliver), 2nd Kings Will Dream (Darren Weir, John Allen), 3rd Jon Snow (Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman, Stephen Baster), 4th Kementari (James Cummings, Craig Williams), 5th Happy Clapper (M. Zahra), 6th Comin’ Through (Chris Waller, Michael Walker), 7th Humidor (Darren Weir, Damian Lane), 8th Black Heart Bart ( Darren Weir, Brad Rawiller),, 9th The Taj Mahal (Liam Howley, Ben Melham ), 10th Harlem (David & B Hayes & T Dabernig, Regan Bayliss), 11th Tosen Basil (Darren Weir, Jordan Childs), 12th Pounamu (Alan Mathews, Brett Prebble)
Distance: 1,600 metres, Surface: Turf, Track: Left-handed, Qualification Three year old and older that are not maidens, Weight: Weight for age, Purse: A$750,000 (2018), Bonuses: Winner exempt from ballot in the Caulfield Cup
Credit: Ritesh jamkhedkar ritesh.jamkhedkar@secretariatsworld.com