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By Ray Hickson

It’s been a spring of setbacks for Gringotts but the Group 1 winner can put himself back on the right path in Saturday’s $1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill.

Johann Gerard-Dubord (Pic: Bradley Photos)

The Ciaron Maher trained gelding, unlucky when runner-up in the race last year, hasn’t been seen since he resumed in the Winx Stakes back in late August due to a mild virus.

He was due to contest the 7 Stakes three weeks ago and was also scratched from the Shannon Stakes but Maher’s assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord said he'll finally get his chance to reboot his spring.

“His blood is perfect so we’re back on track,’’ he said.

“The horse physically wasn’t showing signs he wasn’t right so fitness will be no issue. It’s good to get him back to the races.

“With the kind of horse he is and the kind of races coming up it’s always better to play it safe and make sure he’s right before racing.”

There’s no shortage of races around for Gringotts, $7 with TAB on Friday, which has allowed the Maher team to be patient and give him the time to get over the virus rather than just abandoning the spring.

Gerard-Dubord said defending his title in the $3 million Big Dance, run on November 4, is a good fallback target to have given his win in The Gong saw him eligible for the 2025 edition.

“The King Charles was the race we were targeting but he’s also qualified for the Big Dance which is also a big prizemoney race,’’ he said.

“If he happened to win and win impressively the King Charles could be back on track and if not we’ve got the Big Dance there.

“He’s drawn well, he’s got a bit of weight but it’s not an issue for him so it looks a nice race for him.”

A setback also cost Willydoit his shot at the TAB Epsom last weekend, he sustained a minor eye injury which forced his late scratching from the Group 1.

He’s being aimed at the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) so although the stable was disappointed to miss the Epsom he can still be in order for the rich four-year-old feature on November 1.

“He needs to race, last week was the race we targeted for him because a mile around Randwick with four weeks between runs was an ideal set up,’’ Gerard-Dubord said.

“The horse was fine, there wasn’t much to it but they wanted to play it safe on race day. It’s not ideal but it will be a nice set up going into a Golden Eagle in three weeks.”

As it was going to be in the Epsom, the plan is for Willydoit to settle more forward than in the Tramway first-up where the were forced to ride him cold from a wide barrier.

“He’s drawn better than he was last time so we want to use the gate a bit more and be more positive,’’ he said.

“The closer we can be the better. He should be strong late but it’s whether 1400m around a tighter track will be too sharp for him.”

Last time we saw Gringotts was in the Winx Stakes

Johann Gerard-Dubord on Siriusly Hot (race 5): “He’s always had talent. He was very impressive first-up from the back, last start he over did it and raced a bit fresh. He should be better going to 1400m but the gate is not ideal. I’d say we’ll ride him quiet like he did first-up and just want him tom be strong late.”

On Light Infantry Man (race 8): “He’s a Group 1 winner at 2000m and it seems to be his right trip here. I think the horse is going well, Ethan Brown was very positive in his feedback after his last run. He said he feels like he could get to 2400m so stepping up to 1900m will definitely be a plus. I think he will run a good race then go up in trip.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s meeting at Rosehill