Casino Prince figures as a genuine value-for-money sire available to breeders in the $10,000 bracket this year.
He grabbed Top 10 spot among Australia’s leading stakes-winning sires in 2015-16 sitting alongside stallions with an extra zero per service.
There were 89 winners of 150 races and a black-type department that included Timeless Prince, Hooked, Escado, Mighty Lucky, Casino Dancer and Slots.
Vinery’s prolific winner-getter punched his 150th winner on the penultimate day of the season with Pookies Grin at Doomben. The 5yo mare was also his first of the season at Toowoomba on August 1 last year.
The numbers started ticking over again during the first week of the new season when Firenze won the Murray Mallee Winter Stayers Final (2108m) at Swan Hill on Monday.
Earlier on Monday, Casino Prince filly Brigite pleased trainer Ciaron Maher during a cosy trial at Cranbourne. She is a half-sister to world champion sprinter Black Caviar and a full-sister to Vinery young gun All Too Hard.
“She’s shown ability on the training track but wasn’t asked to lot,” Maher said after the midfield finish over 800 metres. “She’s a big, strong horse and is still a little way off.”
Luke Nolen, who partnered Black Caviar in 22 of her 25 victories, kept a firm grip on Brigite. “She will come on a lot from that,” Maher explained. “Luke said she wasn’t happy on the wet going but we will find a race when she’s ready.”
Brigite is the seventh foal of Helsinge and was retained to race by Gilgai Farm owner-breeder Rick Jamieson. “She’s the first one I’ve kept out of the mare,” Jamieson said. “We’ve given her plenty of time and she’s showing Ciaron all the right signs.”
Maher bought another Casino Prince from Gilgai Farm at the Inglis Melbourne Premier in March. The colt is out of Flemington Group 3 winner Sophie’s Spirit and Jamieson parlayed a bargain service fee into a $260,000 pay-day at Oaklands.
