Vinery Stud heads to the Inglis Classic Sale off the back of a very successful start to the year at the Gold Coast Magic Millions.
There are 28 quality lots entered for the opening of the Riverside Stables on February 10 with the majority by its own sires More Than Ready (USA), All Too Hard, Mossman, Pluck (USA) and the evergreen Testa Rossa.
Vinery finished among the Top 5 vendors on the Gold Coast with 16 yearlings averaging $336,875. More Than Ready topped the list of their sires with fillies bought by Yulong Investments ($650,000) and Cambridge Stud ($500,000).
More Than Ready has become a legend in his own lifetime with 180 stakes winners and his Classic consignment starts with Vinery’s filly from Riva Del Mar (Lot 14). It’s the first foal from the mare who is from a half-sister to Doomben Slipper LR winner Chickens.
There’s more black-type on the horizon at the elite level for More Than Ready with Prized Icon set for the Australian Cup at Flemington and Doncaster Hcp at Randwick. “He’s a big gross stallion and will continue to improve throughout this prep,” trainer Kris Lees predicted. “He’s better on firmer ground and the weather will also play a hand on his program in Melbourne and Sydney.”
All Too Hard is another Vinery sire gunning for Group 1 wins with his top-class colt Villermont, Demonetization and All Too Soon. Last seen swooping to victory in the Sandown Guineas Gr.2, he also has career-defining assignments in Melbourne and Sydney.
Trainer Aaron Purcell has set his sights on the Australian Guineas Gr.1 at Flemington and Rosehill Guineas Gr.1. “I’m confident the decision to give him a light spring will pay off,” he said. “He’s a horse we always thought would be better come the autumn carnivals. He spelled terrific and looks amazing.”
Villermont will kick-off his classic campaign at Caulfield in either the Autumn Stakes (1400m) on February 10 or C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) a week later.
Demonetization is the current NZ Derby favourite and All Too Soon is one of several fillies heading for the Vinery and ATC Oaks.
Vinery’s first All Too Hard to parade is the second colt from More Than Ready mare Vintage Drop (Lot 204). She won at Sandown Hillside in a five-start career for Mick Price and is a three-quarter sister to Brisbane stakes winner Cellargirl.
Pluck is off to a winning start this year with Hong Kong Challenge Cup winner Jade Theatre and his top-class mare Life On The Wire is poised to add her name to his roll-call of feature winners in February.
Tasmanian trainer Scott Brunton has won four on the bounce with Life On The Wire leading into the Bow Mistress Trophy Gr.3 and Vamos Stakes Gr.3.
“She’s only lightly-raced winning 6 of her 12 starts,” he said. “And she would have an even better record but for running into Hot Dipped last season.
“She holds her condition well, her legs are good and she gives herself every chance with speed from the gates. Bring on the Bow Mistress!”
Pluck has a half-brother to last-start Hong Kong Classic Mile Gr.1 winner Nothingilikemore (Lot 466) and Vinery will offer a Pluck half-sister to Melbourne stakes winners Stokehouse and Malasun (Lot 513). Nothingilikemore is by Husson and was a $40,000 graduate from the 2015 Inglis Classic Sale.
Vinery’s Husson colt from Raischek (Lot 3) received a recent update when his dam’s half-brother Sir Kalahad won on debut at Sale. A son of All Too Hard, he did things wrong in running and will be winning in Melbourne when he matures from a raw recruit into a racehorse.
Husson received a well-deserved Group 1 update in Hong Kong when Nothingilikemore won the Classic Mile on January 21. He was a $40,000 graduate from the 2015 Inglis Classic Sale.
