Vinery completed a running double with promising 3yo maiden winners Hurricane Thunder and Perfect Ending at Geelong on Tuesday.
Hurricane Thunder (3g Russian Revolution – Moretti by More Than Ready) edged clear in the Wilsons Real Estate Plate (1312m) after a duel with King Neptune (NZ). Trained by Team Hawkes, he broke through following a first-up placing behind fellow Russian Revolution galloper Russian Front at Geelong last month.
“That was a real good effort against some strong competition and it was a good ride by John (Allen),” co-trainer Wayne Hawkes said. “He was caught three wide but didn’t panic. He grabbed a hold and the horse came back under him. That was his third start and he would have won by now but for bad luck.
“The owners have been patient and he’s going places. We will have a look at the calendar and decide whether to stay in Melbourne or go to Sydney.”
Hurricane Thunder was sold by Vinery (as agent) for $100,000 at the 2021 Gold Coast Magic Millions to a syndicate managed by Rupert Legh. He was bred by Brian & Noela Backshall and is from a half-sister to multiple Group 1-winning sprinter Bentley Biscuit.
The Backshalls bred Russian Revolution (Snitzel) who went on to join Vinery’s Group 1 winning graduates in the 2017 Galaxy and 2018 Oakleigh Plate before embarking on a successful stud career at Newgate Farm.
All Too Hard filly Perfect Ending won second time out in the Bet365 Plate (1412m) on the back of a debut fifth at Kilmore last month. She tracked front-runner Fields Of Jenni (Deep Field) and, once balanced in the straight, powered home for Danny Moor.
“We were impressed with her first-up effort and today confirmed she’s a very competitive filly,” trainer Matt Cumani said. “She pushed out behind the leader and was tough to the line. She has the speed and the ringcraft to keep progressing and that gives us a few options.”
Perfect Ending (3f All Too Hard – Perfect Finish by Strategic) is the second winner from an unraced mare closely-related to Yell (Anabaa) who was named Australia’s Champion Sprinter in 2002-03 for owners Bob and Jack Ingham.
Trainer Mike Moroney has All Too Hard 3yo Elkington Road primed for a feature-race breakthrough in the Mornington Guineas (1600m) this Saturday. A Group 2 runner-up in the Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Flemington in October, he will appreciate stepping back up to a mile after a last-start placing in the Bendigo Guineas (1400m).
