More Grunt this time

TRAINER Mick Price expects a return to racing at Flemington to benefit Grunt when he runs in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes tomorrow.

Grunt is the least experienced of the 12 runners in the 1600m weight-for-age race but has an imposing Flemington record.

He finished third on debut in May last year while his only two other starts at the track resulted in wins in the C.S. Hayes Stakes (1400m) in February and the Australian Guineas (1600m) two weeks later.

Price is happy with where Grunt is placed and says tomorrow is the day he is ready to step up after two unplaced runs over 1400m at Caulfield since resuming.

“It’s a nice race for him and he should be ready to show up,” Price said of Grunt, who is a $13 chance in Ladbrokes’ markets for the Group 1 event.