Vinery Stud has marshalled its largest draft in memory for the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale with 31 lots catalogued for Riverside Stables on April 3 and 4.

Its Easter Group 1 graduates include Exceed And Excel, Russian Revolution, Shamus Award, Delectation, Aristia and Samaready who is the dam of tomorrow’s Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) hopeful Shinzo (Snitzel).

The Vinery consignment comprises yearlings by its residents All Too Hard, Star Turn and first-season sire Exceedance.  Champion sires Snitzel, I Am Invincible, Written Tycoon, So You Think (NZ) and Exceed And Excel are also represented as are Toronado (Ire), Zoustar, Deep Field and Dundeel (NZ) among a who’s who of Australia’s elite stallions.

Winning updates have been coming thick and fast since the catalogue was released and the latest arrived on Tuesday when Tumbling claimed the Veolia 2yo Maiden Plate (1000m) at Ballarat.  A son of Widden sire Trapeze Artist, he powered home from last of the main pack to score running away on debut for Ciaron Maher Racing.

Tumbling holds a Group 1 nomination for the ATC Inglis Sires’ (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday, April 1 and Vinery (as agent) will offer his Deep Field half-brother as Lot 445 the following Tuesday.

“Ciaron said he was a nice colt and I found that out when I worked him for the first time last week,” winning jockey Beau Mertens confirmed after returning to scale at Ballarat.  “He’s a very good horse alright and did a good job to round them up and put them away today.  He will take a lot out that first-up and, for a colt, he’s got the right attitude.”

Tumbling and his Deep Field half-brother are the first foals from Irish-bred mare Viviette (Invincible Spirit).  She’s an unraced raced daughter of Chantilly Stakes-winner Vincennes (King’s Best) who is a half-sister to Cape Cross (Ire) and the dam of Iffraaj (GB).

Tumbling was initially offered as a foal at the 2021 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale and was pin-hooked by Justin Bahen Bloodstock for $330,000.  He doubled in value when Vinery (as agent) sold him for $650,000 at the 2022 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale.  “He was reared here and was very much admired at the Magic Millions Foal Sale,” Widden’s Antony Thompson recalled.  “He also presented beautifully as a yearling and it was lovely to see him sell that well to a leading trainer like Ciaron Maher.”