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 | GRUNDY by Tony Ward Bred by Tim Holland-Martin at Overbury Stud in Gloucestershire, bloodstock agent Keith Freeman purchased Grundy for 11,000 guineas as a yearling for Italian banker Dr Carlo Vittadini and sent him to trainer Peter Walwyn at Lambourn. Although a beautiful bronze chestnut, his three white socks, flaxen mane and tail probably kept his price down. By Great Nephew out of Word From Lundy, Grundy possessed a blend of speed and stamina. Word From Lundy won at 12f, Great Nephew lost by a nose in the 2000 Guineas over 8f and stayed 10f well. |
2YO CAREER 1974
His first run was in the Granville Stakes at Ascot in July. Pat Eddery was on board as he was to be in all of his races. Grundy won comfortably from stablemate No Alimony but little notice was paid as this was the day that the wonderful filly Dahlia won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes for the second time. In a years time Grundy and Dahlia would cross swords.
Kempton was the next stop in the Serenia Stakes. Grundy won in comfortable fashion from previous winners Prospect Rainbow, Gisela, Ramadour and Sweet Reclaim.
Doncaster followed and a considerable step up in class for the 7f Champagne Stakes and although he was made favourite seven of his nine opponents were previous winners including Anne's Pretender who had won his maiden by five lengths. Grundy only gained the upper hand close home to win by half a length but the manner of his win was impressive as a furlong out he was behind a wall of horses with seemingly nowhere to go before accelerating clear in an instance as Eddery found the gap needed to win from Whip It Quick and Bold Pirate.
This victory made Grundy as favourite for the following years 2000 Guineas which was endorsed further by his final performance as a two-year-old in demolishing the Dewhurst field at Newmarket to win by six lengths from the Middle Park winner Steel Heart.
He was an outstanding two-year-old, the best in England and was rated top of the Free Handicap but just 1lb ahead of Green Dancer the French colt who had won the Observer Gold Cup. Grundy's stablemate No Alimony, who he had beaten on his racecourse debut by two lengths, was third, just two lengths behind Green Dancer.
3YO CAREER 1975
His preparation for the new campaign met with a setback when he was kicked in the face by a stable companion going out from the stables one morning. This injury put him a couple of weeks behind in his fast work which was one of the key reasons for his first time out defeat at Newbury in the Clerical Medical Greenham Stakes. In extremely grueling conditions, the race was run 16 seconds slower than standard, fitness found him out and the useful grey Mark Anthony beat him by two lengths.
Grundy maintained favouritism for the 2000 Guineas from Mark Anthony and the leading Italian 2yo of 1974 Bolkonski, now running from the great Henry Cecil stable. Grundy raced with great enthusiasm to take the lead two furlongs from home but a shock was in store as Bolkonski, at 33-1, showed the better turn of foot to win by half a length with Dominion, a twelve length winner of his maiden in third, from Royal Manacle and Mark Anthony, on this occasion, five lengths in arrears.
Two weeks later, normal service resumed at the Curragh in the Irish 2000 guineas which Grundy won easily from Monsanto and old rival Mark Anthony.
THE DERBY
The Derby was about Grundy and Alec Head's Green Dancer who was the hot 6-4 favourite but it was difficult to equate their form and there were question marks about the stamina of the pair. Grundy's two defeats could be excused and his two-year-old form and display in Ireland appeared to give him the edge. His finishing manner suggested that the step up to 12f from 8f would suit him but Green Dancer was proven at 10f and had won both of his races in the current campaign, the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and the Prix Lupin. In the former he beat Monsanto by further than Grundy had in Ireland.
Grundy was magnificent!
In a fast run race he settled and held a good position looking like the winner from the turn for home behind the strong running Anne's Pretender. Grundy quickly went clear a furlong and a half out, nothing could get near him and the stamina doubts were made to look ridiculous. He finished three lengths in front of Prix Saint-Alary winner Nobiliary with a further seven lengths back to Hunza Dancer, winning in a time the fastest since the war. Whip It Quick, Dominion, No Alimony and Green Dancer were further in arrears.
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY!
The National Stud acquired a 3/4 share in Grundy for the sum of £750,000 but the conditions stipulated that his career would end that season after a maximum of four more races all in Britain. It provoked disappointment in the racing world as not only would he not race as a four-year-old he was not allowed to take his chance in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. From a sporting point of view it was deplorable but no doubt made good sense economically.
His next race under his "allowance" was in the Irish Sweeps Derby which he won easily by two lengths from King Pellinore and Anne's Pretender. At the time the performance showed us nothing new but took on a new meaning later in the season when Bruni beat King Pellinore in the St Leger by ten lengths.
THE RACE OF THE SEASON - AND MANY MORE!
 Bustino v Grundy | At Ascot in the King George and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes there were still those who questioned Grundy's ability to see out 12f on a stiff track and against older horses. Dahlia took her place again having won the race for the past two seasons. Coronation Cup and St Leger winner Bustino, a year older, arrived from the Dick Hern stable and to ensure that any flaws in Grundy's make up were exposed he ran two pacemakers, the miler Highest and stayer Kinglet, both decent runners in their own right. The pacemakers did their job to perfection, first Highest set a blinding gallop and then Kinglet, before Bustino set for home at the half mile marker. Pat Eddery moved Grundy into second place as Bustino went ahead. Grundy finally got to Bustino a furlong out but Bustino pulled away again and so it repeated in a dual to the line. Neck and neck, it was only in the last few strides that Bustino cracked and Grundy was victorious in an outstanding race with Dahlia five lengths back in third. The mile and a half track record at Ascot was broken. |
Just three weeks later and the grueling battle at Ascot had taken it's toll as Grundy was fully beaten two furlongs from home in the Benson & Hedges Gold Cup at York behind Dahlia, Card King and Star Appeal (who later would win the Arc). Although the drop back to 10f could be offered as an excuse it is more likely that he had not recovered from the severe race with Bustino.
Grundy never ran again (neither did Bustino)
 | Grundy earnt a Timeform rating of 137 falling just outside of their all time top ten behind Sea Bird 145, Brigadier Gerard, Tudor Minstrel 144, Abernant, Ribot, Windy City 142, Mill Reef 141, Dancing Brave, Dubai Millennium, Shergar and Vaguely Noble 140. Although Grundy made a bright start at stud, his record was not deemed good enough and what was considered by many to be a dreadful decision was exported to Japan in 1984. Shergar (pictured), another son of Great Nephew, won the Derby in 1981. |
Grundy died in 1992.
RACE RECORD
| 2YO 1974 | |||
| Ascot | Granville Stakes | 6f | 1st |
| Kempton | Sirenia Stakes | 6f | 1st |
| Doncaster | Champagne Stakes | 7f | 1st |
| Newmarket | William Hill Dewhurst Stakes | 7f | 1st |
| 3YO 1975 | |||
| Newbury | Clerical Medical Greenham Stakes | 6f | 2nd |
| Newmarket | 2000 Guineas | 8f | 2nd |
| Curragh | Irish 2000 Guineas | 8f | 1st |
| Epsom | Derby | 12f | 1st |
| Curragh | Irish Sweeps Derby | 12f | 1st |
| Ascot | King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes | 12f | 1st |
| York | Benson & Hedges Gold Cup | 10.5f | 4th |
