McDeed using pure grunt to combat fire and passion

By Jordan Gerrans

The visiting team of Pure Grunt and reinsman Leigh Sutton landed the money in the opening two-year-old race of the season back in February and they are back shooting for more glory on the big stage this Saturday evening. 

Trainer Keith McDeed is realistic about Pure Grunt’s chances in the Group 1 for the two-year-old boys as he runs into the impressive Fire and Passion from the powerful Dixon team.

But, the 69-year-old McDeed says his young colt has hardly put a foot wrong in the early stages of his career and he deserves a shot at the big QBRED cash on offer. 

With multiple Group 1-winner Sutton doing the steering, Pure Grunt had to settle for second in last week’s heat of the series, as he was well beaten by Fire and Passion.

It has been somewhat of a theme of Pure Grunt’s 11 starts as a racehorse – he perfoms well but he often runs into a better one or two. 

He placed fourth in the Group 1 Protostar during the Queensland winter, third in the Group 3 Wayne Wilson Memorial Paleface Adios Classic as well as running second from an awkward draw in the rich Victorian race for babies in April at Melton.

Reinsman Sutton will need to contend with the widest gate of the second row on Saturday evening in the team’s bid for QBRED Triad fortunes. 

“Our horses advantage is his gate speed but drawing awkward in this race as he has, that is going to make it tough,” McDeed said.

“He will need to be driven for luck, more or less. We are hoping for the best, he will be thereabouts.

“He has never really run a bad race but he might just be a little short of those top ones. He has been working well, the horse; I cannot fault him.

“Leigh knows the horse well after this year and gets on with him good.”

With the sticky draw, McDeed says Sutton is likely to go back once they are released over 1660 metres as he is keen to not do too much work early on.

Grant Dixon’s Fire And Passion is building an extraordinary early career record as he has won seven of his first nine starts.

McDeed says Fire And Passion looms as a ‘special’ horse.

The son of Always B Miki posted the fastest heat time for his age and gender in last week’s heats.

With an array of Group glory on offer on Saturday evening at Albion Park, the Dixon team appear set for a prolific evening, headlined by Fire And Passion’s bid in the $150,000 event for two-year-old colts and geldings.

“He is a big strong fella and we are happy with him, his wins have been good,” Dixon said of Fire And Passion.

“He has been pulling up really well and he seems to be handling his races well.

“I think this will be his final start for the season on Saturday night.”

While Pure Grunt is trained in NSW, the colt is QBRED and picked up the first win bonus with his victory in February.

Bred by Brad and Nick Steele, along with Brian Hewitt, the colt is a graduate of the 2024 Sunshine Stars Sale, with former Albion Park club boss Brad Steele retaining a share in the freshman pacer.

He was a $20,000 purchase at the sales and has stakes nearing $100,000 after three victories and five minor placings. 

McDeed says the stable is comfortable for Pure Grunt to race on as a colt at the moment. 

“He has a beautiful temperament,” he said.

“You can put a mare next to him here at home and he will not carry on.

“That might change a little down the track but hopefully at the moment, everything is fine.

“While he is causing no dramas, he will stay as is – until he tells us different.”

McDeed prepares a team of 36 and is in the midst of a training comeback after taking a lengthy break from the industry. 

The Queensland stable of Cristina Monte and Charlie Cini have been looking after Pure Grunt for his northern campaign. 

Monte and Cini stayed at McDeed’s barn when they travelled south with Jimartee on an Inter Dominion path last year.

A total of four Group 1s will be contested on Saturday evening at Albion Park as well as four Group 2 events across several different ages, genders and gaits.