Hot on the heels of a record-breaking Inglis Classic Sale at Riverside Stables, Vinery was back in business at Warwick Farm with a winning hat-trick on Wednesday.
Highly-promising Press Statement 3yo Roots won the first-leg with a resounding finish over 1200m at her first run back since the spring carnival. She was giving the leaders the best part of 8 lengths approaching the home turn but responded like a Stakes-winning filly of the future when asked to let down by James McDonald.
Fellow Vinery sire Headwater closed the card with his 4yo winners Vigorous Flow and Stormborn.
Roots holds Group 1 nominations for The Championships in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) and Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 9 with the former currently a preferred option for trainer Chris Waller. “She will get a mile but will see how the prep develops before going any further,” stable foreman Charlie Duckworth said. “She made up a massive amount of ground today with a really strong sprint. It’s a privilege to have her in the stable.”
McDonald is also keen to stay aboard. “She got caught a little flat-footed but did exceptionally well to pick them up that easily,” J-Mac agreed. “She’s a proper horse, no doubt about that. She has the scope to improve and will measure up against the quality fillies.”
Roots (3f Press Statement – Arctic Success by Big Brown) was bred by Vinery partner Greg Perry and sold to Kinya Murakami for $52,000 at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. Her older half-sister Arctic Thunder (Headwater) has won three of her last five starts at Rosehill and Randwick and she has also been nominated for the Queen Of The Turf.
Their dam Arctic Success is a half-sister to Golden Slipper Stakes Gr.1 winner Polar Success and has a Star Turn colt entered as Lot 54 from Vinery (as agent) to the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. She foaled a colt by Exceedance at Vinery in November.
The Championships are also on the radar for Press Statement gelding Equation after he changed hands for $205,000 at the Inglis Digital February (Early) Auction earlier this week. He was offered by Aquis Farm and purchased by a syndicate aligned with Annabel Neasham who trained him to win last year’s Canberra Guineas LR.
“Equation is a lightly-raced, proven Stakes performer who Annabel knows inside out,” Neasham’s Bloodstock Consultant Brian McGuire said. “He will be aimed at the Sydney autumn and Brisbane winter carnivals and I’m sure he will be picking up more wins in the very near future.”
Equation was bred by China Horse Club and cost Aquis Farm $110,000 as a foal at the 2018 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale. Vinery had sold his dam Purcentage as a foal for $105,000 at the 2012 Magic Millions National Sale and she won a NZB Pearl Series (1200m) at Avondale.
Vinery’s next Press Statement for sale (as agent) is the filly from Afleet Esprit (Lot 341) at the Inglis Melbourne Premier on February 28. Her dam was a Group 2 winner of the MRC Thousand Guineas Prelude at Caulfield.
