Behemoth capped an unforgettable Saturday after being crowned South Australian 2021 Horse of the Year at Morphettville
Hours earlier, he had defeated a genuine Group 1 field for back-to-back victories in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield. “Wow! What a day to remember,” trainer David Jolly beamed at the SA Awards on Saturday night. “It was a tactical master-class ride by Brett Prebble today. And we couldn’t have achieved all this without our amazing staff, owners and Grand Syndicates.”
The $1million purse sent Vinery flag-bearer All Too Hard to the top of the Australian sires’ premiership for the first time. He leads a Vinery roster revamped and rejuvenated with young guns Headwater and Star Turn making excellent starts at stud ahead of newcomers Exceedance and Ole Kirk.
Ole Kirk is the latest Team Hawkes-trained addition and he put an exclamation mark on a stunning career when named NSW Champion 3YO at Kembla Grange on Saturday. He claimed the award for his Group 1 wins in the Golden Rose and Caulfield Guineas.
Vinery’s Champion second-season sire Headwater didn’t break stride at the start of the new term. A Saturday double (Head On Up & Whitewater) kept him on top of the winners’ table for third-crop stallions. Fellow Vinery sire Press Statement is third.
Star Turn can emulate Headwater this season after a double of his own on Saturday with Startantes and Rebel County. Imatruestar made it 7 wins when bolting in at Grafton on Monday to keep him on top the second-season table. Startantes is on stand-by for a possible trip to Melbourne.
Saturday also saw Vinery’s Group 1 graduate Artorius storm home from last for a close second in the MRC Heath Stakes (Gr.3, 1100m) at Caulfield. “We were very happy with how he went,” co-trainer Sam Freedman said after watching the Blue Diamond Stakes winner go down a half-neck to Brucknow.
“He went as well as he could without winning obviously but he’s still got some improvement to come and that run sets him up nicely for the spring.”
Artorius (Flying Artie) was sold by Vinery partner Greg Perry for $120,000 at the 2020 Magic Millions Yearling Sale and is now a firming $4.60 favourite to join All Too Hard, Press Statement and Ole Kirk on the Caulfield Guineas honour-roll on October 9.
Ole Kirk leads the Vinery roster at a $55,000 service fee alongside All Too Hard ($33,000), Exceedance ($33,000), Headwater ($16,500), Star Turn ($16,500), Press Statement ($13,750) and Casino Prince ($5,500). All fees inc GST. Payment on live foal.
For bookings or further information, please contact Adam White (0414 800 918) or Harry Roach (0401 970 006).
