Vinery Stud’s consignment to the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale comprises lots from its resident sires Exceedance (2), All Too Hard (2), Headwater (3) and a filly by Flying Artie – the sire of Vinery’s Group 1 graduate Artorius.
Exceedance has a filly and colt from his second crop and they’re catalogued in the final stages of Select Sale trade on Day 2. The filly from Acacia Ridge (Lot 349) is the first foal from a winning half-sister to Samantha (ATC Fireball Stakes LR).
“She’s very sharp,” Vinery’s Harry Roach said during inspections at Riversides Stables on Friday. “She’s a forward type and the dam is by More Than Ready (USA).”
Exceedance is a Group 1-winning son of Exceed And Excel and that cross with the Vinery legend has a 63% strike-rate headed by Godolphin Group 1 star Bivouac and black-type winners like Coruscate (Melbourne) and Left The Building (Perth).
The Exceedance colt (Lot 394) is the second foal from Moonee Valley-winning 2yo Bright Eyes (Bel Esprit). The dam’s first is a Headwater yearling filly with Mitch Beer and Roach rates her colt as a strong, athletic type with looks to match.
The first of Vinery’s three Headwaters is the colt from Sipura (Lot 250). He’s the first foal from a half-sister to Swear (Ming Dynasty Hcp Gr.3, 1400m) and last-start Sandown Hillside winner Blood Oath.
Vinery’s All Too Hard colt (Lot 43) and filly (Lot 190) can receive a record-breaking Group 1 update on Sunday when Wellington attempts to make it a winning hat-trick in the HKJC Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin.
Wellington (6g All Too Hard – Mihiri by More Than Ready) can also grab the Hong Kong Sprint title for a third straight year but, to do that, he will have to turn the tables on his younger rival Lucky Sweynesse. “It’s very rare when a horse comes back a third time in any division and to do it in a Group 1 would be exceptional,” trainer Richard Gibson said.
“It’s a great credit to the horse although he will have to fight it out with some very good horses. It’s the time of the year that he really likes and really thrives. We’re also happy with a bit of ease in the ground.”
