Vinery Stud sired gallopers Allibor (All Too Hard) and Oughton (More Than Ready) have reopened their winning accounts in Australia after returning home from Hong Kong this season.

Not many horses are able to win more races after being cast adrift from Hong Kong but Allibor broke a long run of outs in the Hygain Hcp (1400m) at Ballarat last Tuesday while Oughton rewarded favourite punters in the Bundamba Plate (1400m) at Ipswich on Saturday.

Allibor was a top-class 3yo in the spring of 2020 winning that year’s MRC Sandown Guineas (Gr.2, 1600m) for part-owner and trainer Symon Wilde who had pin-hooked him for $60,000 at the 2019 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale.  All Too Hard sired him from USA-bred mare Libor Lady (Exchange Rate) and she had already foaled Hong Kong winners Otouto (Haradasun) and Little Bird (Starcraft).

He was subsequently sold to clients of David Hayes and renamed Helene Allibor.  Unfortunately, his Hong Kong career was plagued by injuries until stewards signalled his departure after a below-par performance at Happy Valley.

Now trained by Lindsay Park’s Ben, Will & JD Hayes, he didn’t reappear until earlier this month at Bendigo before winning second-up at Ballarat.  “We put blinkers on today and it was a huge improvement off the first-up run,” stable rep Will Evans said.  “He was suited by the hard speed and can go on with it now.”

Oughton was bred by Tony Santic and made headlines at the 2020 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale when purchased by Spendthrift Australia for $900,000.

Vinery legend More Than Ready (USA) sired him from La Fluorescent (General Nediym) and the signs were positive following a Sandown maiden win for Hawkes Racing in December 2021.  Hong Kong came calling and he was sold to race as A Pal winning twice at Sha Tin for owner Lee Sheung Chau and trainer Frankie Lor.

Repatriated to Australia after injuring a tendon, Oughton was purchased by Gold Coast couple Les and Melissa Kelly for a first-up win at Warwick and a handy victory in Saturday’s Bundamba Plate.

“He’s been a work in progress and keeps fit with plenty of swimming,” Melissa said.  “He’s off to the paddock now so hopefully after a nice break we can have even more luck with him next prep.”

All Too Hard has built a successful strike-rate in Hong Kong with 16 individual winners of 58 races headed by recently-retired Group 1 Champion Sprinter Wellington.  Vinery stands him for an unchanged service fee of $38,500 (inc GST) this year.  For bookings or further information, contact Adam, Harry, McKoy or Peter on (02) 6543 8333.