Vinery Stud partner Steve McCann bred his third winner in as many days when More Than Ready (USA) 3yo filly Mistress completed a successful week with a stylish victory at Scone on Friday. All three winners were sold as yearlings by Vinery Stud (as agent).
McCann bred Sandown winner Squad (Shalaa) on Wednesday, Wyong winner Chief Conductor (I Am Invincible) on Thursday before Mistress saluted on the first day of the Scone Cup carnival.
Squad is absolutely flying for Team Hawkes with a third win from his past four starts in the Senet Legal Hcp (1000m). He led all the way around the Hillside circuit for a syndicate that includes Rupert Legh, Brian Dorman, Bruce Wilson, Neil Werrett, Gerry Ryan and Basil Nolan.
McCann (Encompass Bloodstock) kept a share after selling Squad for $470,000 through the Vinery draft at the 2021 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale. “He’s a fast horse and keeps lifting the bar,” co-trainer Wayne Hawkes said. “He relaxed after a fortnight between runs and class got him through the Heavy 9.”
Squad is a classically-bred son of Shalaa (Ire) and hails from a Group 1 winning family nurtured by the Aga Khan going back to Group 1 Champions Sagamix (Arc de Triomphe) and Sagacity (Criterium de Saint-Cloud).
His French-bred dam Sagamiyna (Azamour) is a half-sister to Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Sagawara (Shamardal) and she has a weanling colt by Exceedance at Vinery.
Chief Conductor was a runaway winner at Hawkesbury before another front-running victory at his home-track in the Wyong Roos Hcp (1100m) on Thursday. He’s trained by Sara Ryan at the Central Coast property owned by Domeland principal Cheng Yung-Pun.
“He was far too strong to score by four last month and made it back-to-back today,” Ryan said. “He’s a progressive type and was well-ridden by Jett Stanley.”
He was offered for sale through the Vinery Stud draft at the 2020 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, where he was knocked down to Domeland for $600,000. McCann and Neil Werretr bred Chief Conductor by using Champion Australian sire I Am Invincible over their Group 1 VRC Lightning Stakes winner Snitzerland (Snitzel). The mare’s first son Hard Landing (All Too Hard) won the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) at Flemington and her latest foal is a filly by I Am Invincible.
Mistress had won a Newcastle maiden on debut in November and broke through this prep when getting out to 1600m in the Stablewizard Hcp at White Park. She graduated for $300,000 from Vinery’s consignment to the 2021 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.
The 3yo daughter of Vinery legend More Than Ready (USA) is trained by John O’Shea for Milburn Creek owner John Muir. McCann and Gerry Harvey bred her from Group 1 Toorak Hcp (1600m) winner Allez Wonder (Redoute’s Choice) whose earlier foals include More Than Ready’s Group 3 SAJC Breeder’s Stakes (1200m) winner Kooweerup.
