Vinery Stud graduates Gatsby’s, Brave One and Winning Proposal will commence their spring campaigns in an exciting renewal of The Rosebud (LR, 1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Gatsby’s has opened a $3.20 favourite while Brave One is on the third line of early markets at $6 for the first 3yo black-type race of the Sydney season.  And Winning Proposal is each-way value at $18 off wins at Newcastle and Warwick Farm last season for trainer Kristen Buchanan.

The promising trio were part of an extraordinary 2yo season for Vinery in 2023-24.  The Scone nursery totalled 16 individual juvenile winners that had been consigned to various sales by Vinery and its clients.

Gatsby’s won at Canterbury on debut in February and was spelled following an odds-on fourth to Dublin Down (Exceedance) in the Pago Pago Stakes (Gr.3, 1200m) in March.

The Snitzel colt won a Rosehill barrier trial earlier this month and has come back really well after a spell.  “It all came a bit too soon for him in the autumn and he’s had a decent break,” trainer Chris Waller said earlier this week.  “He’s one of our better 3yo prospects and we will get Saturday out of the way before planning ahead.”

The Run To The Rose (Gr.2, 1200m) on September 14 looks the obvious next step if he stays in Sydney followed by the Golden Rose (Gr.1, 1400m).  He’s a $15 chance in early markets for the $1 million feature race on September 28.

Gatsby’s was bred by Phoenix Thoroughbreds and was sold by Vinery (as agent) to Aramco Racing’s Singapore-based owner Chua Song Ru for $220,000 at the 2023 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

His dam Miss Charming (Forestry) was a 3yo winner on turf at Hollywood Park and is a half-sister to Group 1 Del Mar Oaks winner Tout Charmant (Slewvescent).  She also foaled Snitzel filly Letzbeglam to win the 2020 Blue Diamond Prelude (Gr.2, 1100m) at Caulfield for Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay.

Exceedance colt Brave One was no more than a head in arrears of Gatsby’s in that Rosehill trial following a first-up Randwick win in July.  He followed fellow Team Hawkes-trained Swiftfalcon who was a first-crop winner for Vinery sire Exceedance at Randwick in June.

“He just oozes class and is up there with the best of them,” co-trainer Michael Hawkes declared.  “He had been slow to mature so we gave him a freshen-up off that win.”

Brave One was bred by Neil Werrett, Greg Perry, Steve McCann, Alan Green and Patrick Hodgens.  They sold him to Team Hawkes and a Rupert Legh Racing syndicate through Vinery (as agent) for $300,000 at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Exceedance sired him from Runway Star (Northern Meteor) who had been a three-time black-type winner to Group 3 level in the SAJC Proud Miss Stakes (1200m).

Vinery also sold a full-brother to Brave One for $330,000 to Chris Waller at Riverside Stables in April.  “He presented as a very strong type during our inspections,” Waller’s bloodstock adviser Guy Mulcaster said.  “The price was within our budget and Chris was keen on him.”

Winning Proposal (Shalaa) was a fitting winner of the Exceedance @ Vinery Stud Hcp (1100m) at Warwick Farm in June and she is right up to black-company having finished a length and change behind Fully Lit when fourth in the $2million Inglis Millennium (RL, 1100m) at Randwick in February.

“She was a lovely filly when she arrived here.  Just a natural,” Buchanan recalled.  “That was an impressive run in the Millennium at her second start.  She has a real will to win and continues to strengthen and improve.”

Winning Proposal was a $50,000 purchase for Vardy Thoroughbreds from Vinery Stud (as agent) at the 2023 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.  Bred by Alan Green, Brian Singer and Domenic Romanelli, she is a daughter of Proposal (More Than Ready) and second-dam Sacred Choice (Choisir) was a Group 1 winner of a VRC Myer Stakes and ATC Doncaster Mile.

Exceedance stands for an unchanged $33,000 (inc GST) service fee at Vinery this year with payment on a live foal.   For bookings or further information, contact Adam, Harry, McKoy or Peter on (02) 6543 8333.

This year’s Vinery Open Days are on Saturday 24 August and Sunday 25 August.   Gates open at 8:30am and the stallions start parading at 9am.  Registration for this event is essential so that it can be accurately catered to avoid wastage.  Contact McKoy on (02) 6543 8333  or  mckoy@vinery.com.au