mmg.com.au

A group of district owners were rewarded for their patience when She’s Got Grunt finally recorded her first victory in 23 attempts at Moonee Valley recently.The six-year-old mare had seven wins and eight thirds from her 22 starts — including 12 placings from her past 14 races — before her first triumph on December 20 in the Simpson Construction Maiden Plate over 1200m.‘‘It was excellent,’’ Echuca trainer Gwenda Johnstone said of the win.‘‘She’s been racing consistently most of her career and had run out a third three weeks before that.‘‘She then drew gate one and we thought ‘how good is this’.‘‘That’s why we got (jockey) Darren Gauci, because he’s a good front runner rider.’’She’s Got Gront set the pace and just held on to defeat well-supported first starter Gold Heist to win by a head.Johnstone said there was a sense of relief when the mare crossed the line first, but said She’s Got Grunt was a pleasure to work with.

‘‘She’s an easy-going little thing,’’ she said.

‘‘(She’s) no trouble and is good to have around and pretty easy to train.’’

The Johnstone stable returned to Moonee Valley the following night for Thebarwonprince to claim a third spot, while Shadow Tales claimed a win at Corowa on Saturday.While She’s Got Grunt will not be racing today at Echuca’s New Year’s Eve meet, stablemates Precious Gem and What A Snitz will compete in the first race of the day.

‘‘What A Snitz is probably a little fitter from her last run, while this is a first up race for Precious Gem,’’ Johnstone said.Completing a busy couple of days, Johnstone will also have horses competing at Murtoa and Hanging Rock on New Year’s Day.