Grunt heads up Yulong roster

3 min read

Grunt (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) has been confirmed as Yulong Investments' foundation stallion at its Nagambie-based stud, with the dual Group 1 winner to begin his stud career in 2019.

The winner of the G1 Australian Guineas and G1 Makybe Diva S. will stand for an introductory fee of $13,750 inc. GST.

Grunt

“It is tremendously exciting for Yulong’s stallion division to be launched with a dual-Group 1 miler the quality of Grunt,” Yulong Chief Operating Officer Sam Fairgray said.

“Many of the best stallions throughout history have excelled at a mile and we believe Grunt has the profile for success at stud."

“He is an outstanding looking horse and importantly for breeders, completely Danzig-free.”

“It is tremendously exciting for Yulong’s stallion division to be launched with a dual-Group 1 miler the quality of Grunt." - Yulong Chief Operating Officer, Sam Fairgray

Grunt was purchased out of Trelawney Stud’s draft at Karaka for NZ$220,000 by trainer Mick Price and bloodstock agent Cameron Cooke.

Grunt as a yearling

He is out of Ruqqaya (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy {USA}), is a half-sister to New Zealand Horse of The Year and promising sire Ocean Park (NZ) (Thorn Park). The dam won twice and who has also produced stakes performer Addison (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) and all three of her foals to race have been successful.

Like promising young stallion Dundeel (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}), Grunt carries Zabeel (NZ) on his dam side and he is free of Danzig (USA) blood.

He is one of 13 Group 1 winners by dominant New Zealand sire O’Reilly, who whose sons Alamosa (NZ) and Shamexpress (NZ) have sired six Group winners including three at the elite level.

“On type and pedigree Grunt will suit a wide variety of mares, which is one of the major elements that attracted us to him,” Fairgray said.

“Yulong has strengthened its broodmare band over the last 12 months and we will be supporting Grunt in his first season with many of these mares.

“On type and pedigree Grunt will suit a wide variety of mares, which is one of the major elements that attracted us to him." - Sam Fairgray

“We will be active at the upcoming broodmare sales to ensure he has the best possible start to his stud career.”

Watch: Grunt winning the G1 Australian Guineas

Grunt finished third in his only 2-year-old appearance behind the subsequent Group 1 winner Aloisia (NZ) (Azamour {Ire}).

He returned the following season to break at his maiden at his first appearance, two starts later he won the G3 CS Hayes S. and showed his quality next time out with victory in the G1 Australian Guineas.

“He's a magnificent specimen of a horse and he deserved a really strong Group 1 win like that,” regular rider Damien Oliver said after the Flemington feature."

“Grunt had a great temperament and I think he will make an excellent stallion.” - Trainer Mick Price

The honour roll of the Australian Guineas includes such outstanding stallions as Zabeel (NZ), Flying Spur, Pins, Dash For Cash and Reset.

Grunt returned as a 4-year-old to impressively win the G1 Makybe Diva S. earlier this season by two lengths at Flemington, beating eight Group 1 winners in the process.

He retires with a Timeform rating of 123 as a 4-year old, ranking him as elite among his generation.

“An outstanding individual and brilliant 1600 metre horse,” Price said. “Grunt had a great temperament and I think he will make an excellent stallion.”

Grunt winning the G1 Makybe Diva S.