Momentum builds with every season, and at Vinery, the past 12 months have set a powerful pace. From standout performances in the sales ring to consistent racetrack success by our graduates, stallions and clients, it’s been a year defined by results.

With the breeding season now upon us, we look ahead with optimism and intent and take this opportunity to thank our clients, our team and our shareholders for the support and commitment to the Vinery vision – we hope you enjoy this reflection.

On the track, Vinery led the way in the 2023/24 season, producing the most two-year-old winners of any farm. That racetrack success has flowed on into the new season, with Femminile winning the Group 1 South Australian Derby and Growing Empire – a multiple Group winner – chasing the older horses home for third in the $20 million The Everest as a spring three-year-old. Too Darn Lizzie continued her strong form as a two-year-old to win the Group 2 MRC Thousand Guineas Prelude at three, as well as being Group 1-placed in the MRC Thousand Guineas. In Vinery’s colours, Legacy Bound won the Group 3 SAJC Breeders’ Stakes in spectacular fashion and Swiftfalcon won the Listed Dulcify Stakes as well as being Group 1-placed in both the Randwick and Rosehill Guineas. Other Vinery stakes-winning graduates include Gatsby’s, Garza Blanca and Prairie Flower.

2025 Yearling Sales

Looking to the sales ring, Vinery presented drafts at all the major yearling sales and commenced a successful season with the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Vinery achieved a 96% clearance and averaged $295,000, $30,000 above Book One’s average and 7% up on 2024, a good reflection of the quality of stock offered to the market. Equally topping our draft at $900,000 were the Frankel colt out of the Group 1-producing mare Cleanup, and the filly second-foal of Saas Fee – a daughter of Snitzerland – by the same sire as Vinery’s exciting young stallion Hawaii Five Oh in I Am Invincible. At $850,000, the Snitzel colt out of Medovina was secured by a syndicate of James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership/Tony Fung Colts.

Four weeks on and it was to Sydney for the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale where 23 yearlings were secured by domestic and international buyers; half sold for $100,000-plus. Vinery’s average concluded $21,000 above the sale average, with highlights being a colt by All Too Hard out of the Stakes-performing mare Spoils commanding $350,000, and Hong Kong trainer Ricky Yiu going to $350,000 for a son of Star Turn out of the city-winning mare Cocoexcel, one of three Star Turn yearlings purchased by the Champion Trainer this year.

At Inglis Premier, Vinery achieved the second highest median with seven yearlings selling for $150,000-plus for 10 sold. Highlights included $250,000 for the Snitzel colt first-foal of the Stakes-winning mare Ellerslie Lace, $240,000 for a colt by Star Turn out of Proposal and $220,000 for the Ole Kirk filly out of Sheezdashing secured by the same duo who purchased this year’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner O’Ole as a yearling in Bjorn Baker Racing/Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA).

Rounding out a stellar yearling sales season, Vinery achieved a 92% clearance rate at Inglis Easter averaging over half a million ($518,000, or $70,000 higher than the sale average). Four lots were secured for $850,000 – three fillies including the full sister to Growing Empire (Zoustar out of Miles Of Krishan), and two by three-time Champion Sire I Am Invincible: the full sister to Garza Blanca (out of Mousai) and the first foal out of dual Group 1 winner Sierra Sue. The fourth $850,000 yearling was a Too Darn Hot colt out of the Group 1-winning mare Plucky Belle.

Between the Inglis and Magic Millions weanling sales, Vinery achieved a strong weanling clearance rate of 87.5%. At the Inglis Chairman’s Sale, nine mares grossed an impressive $6,010,000, placing Vinery

second overall behind Ciaron Maher Racing, who topped the evening with the $4.2 million sale of Bella Nipotina. We averaged an outstanding $667,000, with standout results including $1,800,000 for Mumbai Muse, $1,500,000 for Makarena, $775,000 for She Dances and $450,000 for Ethereal Star. At the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, our 14 mares grossed $5,250,000 at an average of $375,000, placing us among the top six vendors by both aggregate and average. Notable results included $1,450,000 for Aristia, $1 million for See You In Heaven and $900,000 for Femme Fireball.

Outstanding Stallions

Federico Tesio once said: “There is no such thing as luck in breeding – only patience, observation and a ruthless pursuit of excellence.” At Vinery, our select roster of six high-quality stallions – All Too Hard, Exceedance, Hawaii Five Oh, Headwater, Ole Kirk and Star Turn – reflects that philosophy. Each has been selected through patience, ensuring they carry forward the Vinery stallions’ legacy; and through careful observation, confirming they possess the performance, pedigree and physical attributes needed to pursue excellence.

THE RISING STAR

Ole Kirk has been crowned Champion First Season Sire of 2024/25, and it’s easy to see why. His debut crop has already produced four Stakes winners, including the brilliant Magic Millions 2YO Classic victor O’ Ole and he leads first-season sires by prizemoney, Stakes winners and Stakes wins. Demand in the sale ring has followed suit, with weanlings selling up to $475,000 and yearlings as much as $700,000 in 2025.

PROVEN PERFORMANCE, UNMATCHED VALUE

All Too Hard continues to prove himself as one of the best-value stallions in the country. Over the past five seasons, his progeny have claimed 18 Group 1 victories, a record only bettered by three-time Champion Sire I Am Invincible (19). He is one of just two stallions to sire a Group 1 winner in each of those five seasons and leads the way with the most multiple Group 1 winners in that time, with five.

VERSATILE, IN DEMAND, ON THE RISE

From just two crops, Exceedance has produced winners in both hemispheres with 51 individual winners, including four first-crop Stakes winners headed by Group 1 performer Swiftfalcon, across Australia (43), New Zealand (7) and Japan (1). These winners come from 40 different broodmare sires, underscoring his versatility. His yearlings continue to be in strong demand, selling for up to $320,000, and he covered his largest book to date last season with 181 mares. A sire on the rise, Exceedance’s stock can be described as good types, tough to the line and with good bone.

HONG KONG HERO, MILLION-DOLLAR MARES

Star Turn continues to gain popularity, particularly in Asia, following a series of Hong Kong winners. His 2025 yearlings have sold for more than 20 times his current service fee, while his fillies off the track have also been in strong demand, highlighted by recent sales: Startantes ($1,150,000), Alsephina ($1,100,000) and Saltaire ($725,000). The Asian market has also continued to gravitate towards his stock with Champion trainer Ricky Yiu purchasing three colts by him this season.

THE WINNER-GETTER

Headwater is a Top 20 sire on the General Sires’ table by winners this season, siring 100 winners and proving the best value of any stallion in the country to reach this achievement. His progeny earnings have now surpassed $32 million, with 2025 adding two new Stakes winners to his record in London’s Image and Manhood.

STRIKING LOOKS, STANDOUT SUPPORT

Hawaii Five Oh, by three-time Champion Sire I Am Invincible, is one of the most talked-about young stallions on the scene, with the arrival of his first crop of foals eagerly anticipated. He was exceptionally well supported in his debut season, covering 173 mares from leading breeders including Arrowfield Stud, Newhaven Park, Yarraman Park, Segenhoe Stud, Eureka Stud, Kia Ora Stud and Greg Perry. His book featured 15 Stakes-winning mares – among them Group 1 winners Mrs Onassis and Allez Wonder, along with 19 dams of Stakes winners, including three at Group 1 level.

Leadership Honoured

We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank Peter Orton, who is departing Vinery after 25 years of dedicated leadership. To Peter, Adele and the Orton family – your impact on Vinery is lasting, and your contribution immeasurable. Thank you.

Looking Forward

Conditions have been on our side over the past 12 months, with 930mm of rainfall – comfortably above our 651mm annual average – keeping the farm in great shape. Our pastures have done a wonderful job, and as we turn our attention to the upcoming breeding season, welcoming the next generation of Vinery stars and later preparing our 2026 yearlings, we do so with confidence and appreciation for the continued support of our clients, team, shareholders and the wider industry.

Here’s to another great year ahead.