Vinery shuttler Congrats (USA) is building momentum at the back-end of the season and he came close to siring a two year-old double at Wyong on Tuesday.
The Garry Portelli trained gelding Wide Acclaim won the Farrar Legal Plate (1100m) and Gooree filly Classic Conquest gave a great sight when runner-up in the Club Toukley Plate (1100m).
Wide Acclaim is raced by a Laurel Oak syndicate and he broke through after racing without cover under Winona Costin. Given more rein at the top of the straight, he extended like a good thing to score by more than two lengths.
“That’s exactly what he needed,” Portelli said. “Now the penny has dropped, I’m confident we could have a nice horse on our hands.”
Congrats sired Wide Acclaim from Brisbane stakes winner Dirty (Hussonet) and he was a $100,000 buy from Vinery at the 2014 Gold Coast Magic Millions. His dam has a rising 2yo colt by Pluck and was bred back to Congrats last year.
Congrats filly Classic Conquest is also knocking on the door after being run down by Motivate on Tuesday. She was racing second-up for Gooree Stud and will be placed to advantage next time by Bart & James Cummings.
Another Congrats ready to kick off a winner as a three year-old is Perth based gelding Forty Four Red. He has been nominated for the Westspeed 3YO Plate (1200m) at Belmont on Saturday.
Vinery will stand Congrats (A. P. Indy) for a $19,800 (inc GST) fee this year.
