Big Dance winner Gringotts to headline Ciaron Maher’s strong hand in The Gong

Ciaron Maher won last year’s The Gong with Detonator Jack and will have no shortage of chances in this year’s feature at Kembla Grange.

Gringotts is the favourite for The Gong. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Trainer Ciaron Maher will call in the heavy artillery for his Group 3 The Gong defence next Saturday with Big Dance winner Gringotts set to headline a potential seven-strong team in Kembla Grange’s richest race.

Maher, then still in partnership with David Eustace, won last year’s The Gong with Detonator Jack and is readying for a heavy-handed approach for this year’s $1 million mile.

Detonator Jack will be there to defend his The Gong crown with the likes of Griff, Vivy Air, St Lawrence, Glory Daze and Berkshire Shadow all in consideration for the quality handicap.

The Listed $500,000 Cranbourne Cup (1600m) is another option for some of the runners from the stable.

Gringotts will lead Maher’s The Gong assault after his dominant win in the Listed Big Dance at Royal Randwick this month.

He is the $2.80 favourite for The Gong.

GRINGOTTS wins the Big Dance💃!

A quinella for @cmaherracing in the $3 million feature but a 10/10 from @TommyBerry21 gets the Tamworth Cup winner home at Randwick over stablemate Vivy Air with Suparazi in third. @tabcomau@_TJCpic.twitter.com/1ggP5S0RQ0

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) November 5, 2024

“Gringotts has come through his win in the Big Dance very well,” Maher’s assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord said.

“He is in good spot but is still improving and will be better next time again.

“He will be really hard to beat, dry or wet. He may get a bit more weight but we are really happy with him.”

Detonator Jack ($15) hasn’t won since last year’s The Gong but has continued to perform consistently over the past 12 months.

Testing wide draws have proven costly in recent starts but the stable are confident he’s capable of bouncing back.

“Detonator Jack’s last two starts he has had a bad gate and was wide but his first two runs back he was good,” Gerard-Dubord said.

“He would like a bit of rain because it makes a big difference.”

Vivy Air ($26) was runner up to Gringotts in the Big Dance while St Lawrence ($15) saluted in the Little Dance on the same program at Royal Randwick.

St Lawrence wins the Little Dance in a thrilling finish and @cmaherracing celebrate the Big - Little Dance double! 🙌@SchofieldChad | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/iANUddiE2M

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 5, 2024

Berkshire Shadow ($26) was placed last start in the Listed Ladies’ Day Cup at Hawkesbury, Glory Daze is second-up and Griff drops back in class from the Golden Eagle.

“Vivy Air has been improving all the time and surprised us,” Gerard-Dubord said.

“St Lawrence has won his last two and is going very well, although this well stronger, and Berkshire Shadow is going very well too and his run at Hawkesbury was good.

“Glory Daze’s runs have been spaced but on his day, he is a good horse.”

Nominations for the $1 million The Gong will be released on Monday with the Group 3 $300,000 The Warra (1000m) also set to be staged on the stand-alone card.

Originally published as Big Dance winner Gringotts to headline Ciaron Maher’s strong hand in The Gong