The increasing presence of Yulong Investments in Australian racing will be evident in Saturday's A$160,000 Gr.3 Shaftesbury Avenue Quality (1400m) at Flemington.
Yulong Investments have boosted their equine portfolio by acquiring a controlling stake of four-year-old entire Grunt.
Trainer Mick Price believes Grunt reserves his best for Flemington, as his record suggests, with his past three victories coming between 1400 and 1600 metres at the venue - last year's Gr.3 C.S. Hayes Stakes (1400m), Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m).
Grunt will use the Shaftesbury Avenue, where he's set to carry 61.5kg, as his only lead-up run before the A$5 million All-Star Mile at Flemington on March 16.
Grunt, a son of O'Reilly, is rated a $10 chance to win The All-Star Mile, with last Saturday's Futurity Stakes (1400m) winner Alizee currently the $3 favourite. -racing.com