Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Gringotts to take his shot from the wide gate in the G2 The Ingham Stakes
Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) has been one of the form horses of the spring, collecting a substantial amount of cash in lucrative races for connections and trainer Ciaron Maher. His now regular jockey Nash Rawiller believes the gelding is capable of delivering another big performance in Saturday’s $2 million G2 The Ingham Stakes - provided he gets the slice of luck he’ll need from the widest barrier possible.
“He’s a horse that can use his barrier speed to his advantage,’’ Rawiller told racingnsw. “It could be a disaster, but it is what it is. He’s very tactical, he can use his speed to overcome half the field then you rely on an ounce of luck to find the right back.”
“He’s (Gringotts) very tactical, he can use his speed to overcome half the field then you rely on an ounce of luck to find the right back.” - Nash Rawiler
Rawiller is the first to acknowledge that Gringotts has already exceeded expectations this preparation, and The Ingham is something of a bonus run before he heads for a break.
“At the end of the day he’s done an amazing job this prep, and this last one is a bit of a bonus before he goes out. Hopefully, we can nail it, and he can go out on a winning note.”
Nash Rawiller | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Gringotts finished down the track in last year’s edition of the race when carrying 60.5kg, but Rawiller feels the gelding is far better equipped this time around. A mid-preparation interruption meant he has arrived at the back end of his campaign fresher than usual, and his recent form reflects it.
Still, Rawiller knows the weight scale presents a challenge. “He’s giving weight to Group 1 winners. That’s where it hurts them I guess,’’ he said. “I’ll keep it simple I reckon. With big weights momentum is important. When you make your run if you have to stop your momentum, that’s when you can run into trouble with any horse, let alone a horse that can carry weight.”
Gringotts (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Despite the obstacles, Rawiller’s confidence in Gringotts’ tactical speed and toughness remains strong. If the gelding can find the right trail and build uninterrupted momentum, he has the form and the rider to make himself a genuine winning chance.
The biggest threats look to be Yorkshire (Snitzel), who was very good last time out, last year’s winner of the race Robusto (Churchill {Ire}, has to be respected with only 54kg, and Rise At Dawn (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) is a consistent performer that can find the right spot in running.
Can the class sprinters stretch out to 1400 metres in The Gold Rush?
Saturday’s $1.5 million G3 The Gold Rush at Ascot presents one of the more intriguing puzzles of the Perth carnival: can the elite sprinters stretch their brilliance to 1400 metres, or will some of them be gasping for air in the final half-furlong?
Much of the attention naturally centres on established speedsters Overpass (Vancouver) and Joker’s Grin (Mashchino), along with the slightly unusual prospect of Cosmic Crusader (NZ) (Maurice {Jpn}) dropping back in trip from 1800 metres. But lurking beneath the headline acts is Rey Magnerio (Magnus), a horse who has slipped seamlessly into Western Australian life and produced a terrific third in the G1 Winterbottom Stakes.
Trainer Robbie Griffiths told racingandsports earlier in the week, that the gelding has loved it out in Western Australia, and may definitely be coming back.
Rey Magnerio | Image courtesy of The Image Is Eveything
“There has been some interest in him for The Quokka and the way he travelled over and has thrived, I think it is something that we should look at,” Griffiths said.
“Everytime we have tried to go to The Goodwood (at Morphettville) in May, he turns into a hairy yak and breaks (into a winter coat) earlier than others, so we haven't been able to take him away.
“We thought we'd take him for the warmer weather, and if it all worked well there, then we could take him to a Doomben 10,000 and then into The Stradbroke (in Brisbane).
“We'll work around the warmer climate with him, as I haven't seen a horse thrive like him.”
Robbie Griffiths | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Rey Magnerio’s Perth debut - a fast-finishing third in the Winterbottom on November 29 behind Libertad (Russian Revolution) confirmed he belongs at this level, and leading local rider William Pike, who partnered him that day, sticks with the ride on Saturday.
The Gold Rush will be Rey Magnerio’s first attempt at 1400 metres, but Griffiths is confident the new trip won’t trouble him.
“We haven't had the need to try him prior because he's always had suitable sprint races in front of him,” Griffiths said.
“We haven't had the need to try him (Rey Magnerio) prior because he's always had suitable sprint races in front of him.” - Robbie Griffiths
“We went over for the Winterbottom, he pulled-up fantastic, so we thought rather than rest up and go for a Rubiton Stakes (at Caulfield in February) worth $200,000, there's a $1.5 million race there in front of us and he's thrived.
“He's out of a Testa Rossa mare, and I've trained horses out of the family that have won over 2000 metres, and some of our Magnus', like King Magnus, their best form has been at a mile.
“On genetics, he should run it easily, it's just we haven't tried him yet.”
“On genetics, he should run it easily, it's just we haven't tried him (Rey Magnerio) yet.” - Robbie Griffiths
Private ‘Eyes’ up more Victorian cash
The evergreen Private Eye (Al Maher) has made a habit of striking when he crosses the border into Victoria, and trainer Joe Pride believes the gelding is primed to continue that trend in Saturday’s $1 million The Supernova at Pakenham. This time, however, he’ll do so with a new rider, as Craig Williams picks up the mount after Nash Rawiller made the difficult call to stay in Sydney.
Rawiller has chosen to stay in Sydney to partner Gringotts, who he has steered to victory in both The Gong and The Big Dance, to ride the gelding again in Saturday’s $2 million G2 The Ingham Stakes - a decision widely viewed as one of the weekend’s toughest rider choices. His commitment to Gringotts opened the door for Williams to team up with Private Eye.
Joe Pride | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I can't fault him,” Pride said on Monday. “He's just a really professional racehorse. He just does everything you could ask from him at home and all the signs are exactly the same.
“He's fresh, he's well, he's trialled well. Everything just looks like it's in place. He'll handle the trip away – he's done that a million times – so I'm looking forward to it.”
“He's fresh, he's well, he's trialled well. Everything just looks like it's in place. He'll handle the trip away – he's done that a million times – so I'm looking forward to it.” - Joe Pride
Private Eye kicked off his 2025–26 season with a commanding two-length victory in the G2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes over 1400 metres at Caulfield in August before returning to Sydney for a pair of strong efforts, finishing second in the G2 Tramway Handicap and fourth in the $1 million 7 Stakes.
He then returned to Melbourne in October and added the G3 Moonga Stakes to his record. Saturday’s race comes six weeks after his fast-finishing fifth in the $3 million Russell Balding , where he got well out of his ground from a tricky draw.
To top off his preparation, Pride gave the $12.7 million earner a quiet trial at Kembla Grange last week ahead of his appearance in the Ladbrokes slot for The Supernova.
Private Eye | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Early markets have installed Private Eye as the clear favourite, with the two-time Everest placegetter and 2021 G1 Epsom Handicap winner allotted 59kg under the set-weights-plus-penalties conditions. Only fellow Group 1 winners Here To Shock (NZ) (Shocking) and Pinstriped (Street Boss {USA}) will carry more, each assigned 60kg.
“We worked this out that we were going there probably six weeks ago, maybe even a touch longer, and I just wanted to give him another run in that Russell Balding, which fitted in well,” Pride said. “I thought he ran terrific (in the Russell Balding) on a track that was too wet for him. He got a long way back.
“The best version of this horse is when he gets up on speed in the second half of his career and we'll be doing that again on Saturday and 1400m is absolutely spot on for him. He seems to absolutely love that distance. He's got a super record at 1400m.”
The numbers back him up: Private Eye has three wins and five placings from nine attempts over the trip - and now, with Williams taking over riding duties after Rawiller’s tough decision to stick with the classy Gringotts, the stage is set for another compelling Victorian performance.
Will Bohemian Rhapsody play a tune in 'The Nursery'?
Bohemian Rhapsody (Prague) steps into Saturday’s $400,000 R. Listed Inglis Nursery over 1000 metres as one of the few runners with raceday experience, and trainer Tony McEvoy believes that could prove valuable - even if assessing the opposition is anything but straightforward.
The colt, a son of Prague, made a strong debut at Flemington last month when finishing third behind Calamari Ring (Street Boss {USA}) in an Inglis race.
“I haven’t got a clue how to line them up,’’ McEvoy admitted.
“I know he’s a pretty good colt, I like him, he’s always shown us enormous talent. I’m not sure he has to improve much at all.
“I know he’s (Bohemian Rhapsody) a pretty good colt, I like him, he’s always shown us enormous talent. I’m not sure he has to improve much at all.’’ - Tony McEvoy
“But I was pleased to see (Calamari Ring) not there for sure.”
McEvoy, who trains in partnership with his recently married son Calvin, said Bohemian Rhapsody took plenty of benefit from his first raceday outing and has continued to improve with the Nursery firmly in mind.
“He ran really well down the straight, he was on the inside which was a bit awkward,’’ he said.
“He presented then levelled out the last bit but ran a solid race and he’s made good progress out of that race. We chased the Inglis race at Flemington and this is another Inglis race. They are good money races and hard to pass up.”
Tony McEvoy | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
His third placing also delivered an extra $100,000 through the Inglis Pink Bonus initiative - eligible to horses at least 75% owned or leased by women - and victory at Randwick would unlock a further $200,000 bonus cheque.
To bridge the gap between runs, McEvoy sent the colt to Albury for a 900m barrier trial, giving him valuable clockwise experience and a solid conditioning hit-out.
“I was trying to organise a trial in Melbourne and it was becoming a bit too hard to organise,’’ he explained.
“I could have sent him to Sydney to trial but he would have had to stay there, and with my staffing, I couldn’t work that out.
“So we sent him on a float and went up to Albury and had a trial, he had a big day, and he trialled nicely.
“He wasn’t there to be tested but he just needed to stretch out around the turn on that Sydney leg and that’s what I was looking for.”
Bohemian Rhapsody as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Bohemian Rhapsody was a $200,000 purchase for McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Sledmere Stud draft at the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. His dam, Invincible Gem (I Am Invincible), was a top-class racemare, a three-time Group winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter.
The Inglis Nursery has historically been a wide-open affair, and although field sizes may be slightly down this year, the sense of unpredictability remains.
Among the key dangers are the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Elio (Ole Kirk), who finished fourth on debut in the Max Lees Classic; Chris Waller’s Vatican (Wootton Bassett {GB}), a $1.2 million Coolmore purchase with strong trial form; and Where’s The Circus (Trapeze Artist), a Paul Murray-trained youngster who impressed in recent Kembla Grange trials.
