A high-calibre sprinter, Gytrash has competed against the great speedsters of the 21st century

Gytrash is a retired Australian Group one winning Thoroughbred racehorse, who was trained by Gordon Richards at Morphettville in South Australia. He is named after the legendary spirit of folklore, the Gytrash, who is said to take the form of a legendary black dog in northern England that haunts lonely roads awaiting travellers. Gytrash was bred by Packaging Investments Australia, Haltrow and Glastonbury Farms by thd sire, Lopa De Vega out of a Fastnet Rock mare, Miss Barley.

He was first offered for sale as a weanling at the Great Southern Sale in 2016, where he was sold for $70,000. Gytrash was then offered at the 2017 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale where he was purchased by his trainer Gordon Richards for megre $40,000. There are about 49 different owners in the horse. They come from all walks of life; there are young enthusiasts, and there are retired people; you have people from professional backgrounds and blue collar workers. But this horse brought them all together. Gytrash's band of owners are based all over the country, ranging from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island, from Melbourne to Sydney, and even as far north as Mooloolaba.

After a number of wins at Metropolitan level, he placed 3rd in the Gr.2 Euclase Stakes, prior to competing at Group one level in The Goodwood. He then won back to back races down the Flemington Straight, the second of which earning him his first black-type race in the Listed Creswick Stakes, and a highly credible 2nd in the Gr.3 The Heath 1100, earning high regard from jockey Craig Williams. This was followed by a short layoff to recover from a minor injury and missing the end of a spring 2019 campaign.

Gytrash resumed racing as a four-year-old after a 6-month spell in the Gr.1 Black Caviar Lightning. Starting at odds of 20/1, he won by one length in a race which included champion sprinters Redzel and Nature Strip. Continuing his good Autumn form, he ran a credible 3rd in the Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap carrying top weight, then delivered a 2nd place behind Loving Gaby in the Gr.1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley under lights with no spectators due to the start of the Coronavirus lockdowns in Australia. Returning home to Adelaide for the Autumn Carnival, he defeated multiple Group one winning mare Sunlight in the Gr.3 R. N. Irwin Stakes by over three lengths in the lead up to the Gr.1 Goodwood, in which he was narrowly beaten by Trekking.

On 14 August 2020, Slot holders Inglis announced that Gytrash would be their contender in the 2020 edition of The Everest. Resuming training based at Warwick Farm in New South Wales, Gytrash then won first up, defeating Nature Strip in the Gr.3 Concorde Stakes at Royal Randwick, posting a time just outside of the track record. Remaining in Sydney, Gytrash tackled The Everest worth $AUD15 Million in the Inglis slot, on 17 October 2020, and finished a creditable 3rd place behind Classique Legend and Bivouac, after a slow start and a strong finish. Gytrash then won over 1300m at Rosehill in the Winner's Stakes (the 2020 version named in honour of Yes Yes Yes for winning the previous years The Everest). In the 2020 World's Best Racehorse Rankings, Gytrash was rated on 118, making him the equal 80th best racehorse in the world.

After a layoff due to an operation to remove a bone chip in a knee, Gytrash resumed racing in the 2021 The Goodwood for a fast finishing 3rd to Savatoxl, and then travelled to Queensland to compete in the Kingsford-Smith Cup where he was badly impeded in the straight and finished 12th. Spelling in Queensland then New South Wales, Gytrash was again selected by Inglis to compete in The Everest, and commenced his prep in The Shorts finishing 3rd. Unfortunately the gelding turned in a uncharacteristic poor run for 7th in the 2021 The Everest, mildly lame in the near-foreleg post-race. In the Classique Legend Stakes won by Eduardo, Gytrash just failed to let down, finishing a disappointing 12th. The Group one winner reinjured a troublesome knee, prompting connections to pull stumps on his illustrious career.


RACE RECORD - 26: 10-6-7
EARNINGS - $ 3,738,775 + 750,000 bonus

Black Caviar Lightning (2020)
R. N. Irwin Stakes (2020)
Concorde Stakes (2020)
Winners (Yes Yes Yes) Stakes (2020)

Thoroughbred Racing South Australia Industry Awards Champion RaceHorse of the Year (2019/2020)