Vinery graduates and stallions continued their strong run of form over the weekend, delivering another series of standout performances across Australia as the autumn carnival gathers momentum.
Leading the results was progressive Exceedance gelding Cristal Clear, who secured a Group 2 victory and became the sire’s third Stakes winner of the season. Vinery graduate Sixties also added further black type to his record with a commanding Group 2 win in the Phar Lap Stakes, while in Queensland talented three-year-old Fabulantes produced a powerful late finish to land the $500,000 QTIS Jewel 3YO.
CRISTAL CLEAR NEW STAKES WINNER FOR EXCEEDANCE
Progressive four-year-old Cristal Clear delivered a determined performance to claim a Group 2 victory, providing a third stakes winner this season for Vinery stallion Exceedance and continuing a remarkable run for the farm’s graduates.
A half-brother to rising three-year-old filly Sass Appeal, Cristal Clear comes from a familiar Vinery family. His dam Cristal Eyes is a daughter of All Too Hard out of More Than Ready mare Champagne Run, while his third dam is the Vinery-bred and raced Bollinger winner of the Group 1 ATC Coolmore Classic. Cristal Clear himself was foaled and raised at Vinery.
Now trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, the gelding has steadily progressed through his grades and had already shown his ability during the spring when finishing sixth in both the $10 million AT Golden Eagle and the $3 million ATC Big Dance.
Ridden by Braith Nock, Cristal Clear produced a tenacious late surge along the inside to secure victory by a long head.
“The Doncaster was our aim this preparation, we thought we might have to go through the Doncaster Prelude,” said Rob Archibald.
“Full credit to Braith and our team at home, they’ve presented him in really good order today. I thought Braith rode him perfectly first-up. We said just have him where he’s happy and see where he’s at and he was excellent.”
Bred by Echo Beach Bloodstock and Brian Singer, Cristal Clear now boasts six wins and over $750.000 in prizemonev and will press on towards the Group 1 Doncaster Mile next month.
His dam Cristal Eyes continues the Vinery story with an Ole Kirk weanling colt and is back in fool to Exceedance.
Cristal Clear is the 11th Stakes Horse for Exceedance with the sire’s largest crop of foals to date arriving last season.
SIXTIES SURGES TO GROUP 2 SUCCESS
Vinery graduate Sixties continued his outstanding autumn campaign with a commanding Group 2 victory, cementing his place among the leading
contenders for the Group 1 Doncaster Mile.
The talented son of Flying Artie is a full brother to dual Group 1 winner Artorius and represents a second-generation Vinery success story, with his dam Grace’s Lass also bred and raised at the farm.
After already winning the Group 3 VRC CS Hayes Stakes and finishing a gallant third in the Group 1 Australian Guineas, Sixties produced another strong display under James McDonald. Despite jumping from a wide draw, he settled outside the leader before surging clear in the straight to score by three-quarters of a length.
Trainer Chris Waller indicated the Doncaster Mile remains the major target.
“Things didn’t really work out in the Australian Guineas… he’s had bad draws and it just makes it harder,” Waller said.
“Ideally in the Doncaster we’ll ride him more conservatively. He’s got to go to a new level in the Doncaster, but he’s very well weighted.”
Sixties carries just 49kg in the famous Randwick handicap and has already built an impressive record of five wins and two placings from 10 starts. earning over $735,000 in prizemoney.
The colt was purchased for $350,000 from the Vinery draft at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale by Aramco Racing and is the highest-priced yearling by Flying Artie.
FABULANTES POWERS HOME IN QTIS JEWEL
Queensland three-year-old Fabulantes added a highlight victory to his exceptional record with an explosive finish to capture the $500,000 QTIS Jewel 3YO.
Trained by Robert Heathcote and ridden by Daniel Moor, the talented gelding stormed home from near last on the turn to first at the finish, extending his winning streak to three and pushing her career earnings bevond $560,000.
A brother to Vinery-raised Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara winner and Joint Champion 3YO Filly in Australia Startantes, out of the Group 2-winning mare Funtantes. the result is another highlight for a family closely associated with Vinery.
Stable representative Oli Peoples admitted the win was even more impressive given the race pattern.
“The pattern of the day was scaring us a little bit because it looked like you needed to be up near the speed,” Peoples said.
“I said to the owners before the race that if he could win against the pattern he’s a good horse, so that was unbelievable.”
Jockey Daniel Moor was equally impressed by the gelding’s finishing burst.
“He’s got a ripper turn of foot, and I think he could measure up to better races ” Moor said. “He was brave when I needed him to be and it was quite a soft win in the end.”
Fabulante’s is one of almost twenty half a million-dollar earners sired by Star Turn to date who consistently continues deliver excellent results on the track and in the sales ring.
