Vinery Stud’s aptly-named graduate A Very Fine Red returned to Melbourne for her first black-type victory in the MRC Alinghi Stakes (LR, 1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
It was the Randwick mare’s second trip south following a narrow loss in the VRC Red Roses Stakes (Gr.3, 1100m) at Flemington twelve months ago. “She’s been unlucky at this level before so it was very important to win today,” jockey Josh Parr said following her courageous victory over Arrowfield Stud’s homebred Shalstar. “It was a fight for the length of the straight and she stuck her head out right on the line.”
A Very Fine Red (4m Deep Field – Italian Storm by Nicconi) is trained by Mark Newnham for owners Steve and Jenny Summers who bought her for $120,000 from Vinery (as agent) at the 2020 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Vinery offered her at Riverside Stables on behalf of Phoenix Thoroughbreds. A year earlier, that same partnership sold Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner Farnan (Not A Single Doubt) at the Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
A Very Fine Red is from a winning half-sister to Caulfield Stakes winner Soft Sand (Dansili) and her dam has an unraced 3yo colt named Haluk (Star Turn) with trainer Anthony Mountney and owner Tory Lavalle.
“She came within a stride of winning a Stakes race down here last year so the win was well-deserved,” stable rep Aaron Lau said. “We knew she was good enough and we also knew she needed that first-up run at Rosehill last month. Mark added the blinkers today and it was a good ride by Josh. On a day like this, there was no point stopping and starting and he put her in a nice rhythm.”
A half-hour after the Alinghi Stakes, Vinery’s impeccably-bred graduate Mistress opened her account on debut in the Klein Tools Maiden Hcp (1300m) at Newcastle.
Mistress (3f More Than Ready – Allez Wonder by Redoute’s Choice) is trained by John O’Shea and looked readymade taking a rails run in the straight to defeat Godolphin’s odds-on favourite Gaylebeck (Ribchester).
She was bred by Vinery partner Steve McCann and was catalogued by Vinery (as agent) at the 2021 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale. Agent Suman Hedge, who was acting for Milburn Creek owner John Muir, acknowledged $300,000 was a fair price for the filly.
“She has all the hallmarks of a nice racehorse and broodmare to go on with at stud,” Hedge predicted. “She’s by More Than Ready which is always a great starting point. And Allez Wonder has done a really good job at stud.”
Allez Wonder (Redoute’s Choice) won a Toorak Hcp (Gr.1, 1600m) at Caulfield and has now foaled seven winners headed by More Than Ready’s SAJC Breeder’s Stakes (Gr.3, 1200m) winner Kooweerup.
Vinery (as agent) sold a Dundeel – Allez Wonder filly for $350,000 at this year’s Gold Coast Magic Millions. She has been named It’s A Wonder and will race for Queensland couple Bill & Dianne Ouston.
