The biggest fortnight of horse auctions in the southern hemisphere is almost upon us, with on-site inspections for the Australian Easter Yearling Sale set to begin on Monday.

Australia’s shop-front window to the thoroughbred world will take place at Riverside Stables from April 9-11.

There are 13 yearlings from Vinery Stud housed in Barn I at Stables 1-4 & 11-19 and they will be parading from 9am on Tuesday, April 3.

Vinery’s Book 1 entrants are by established champions Tapit, More Than Ready, Snitzel & Lonhro and are complemented by rising stars I Am Invincible & All Too Hard.

Vinery latest consignment mirrors the Easter’s seamless move from Randwick to Riverside Stables with its graduates from the historic sale arena winning a dozen Group 1 events in recent years.

Leading that elite list have been Shamus Award (Cox Plate & Australian Guineas), Atlantic Jewel (Thousand Guineas & All-Aged Stakes), Entisaar (Allan Robertson Championship), Delectation (Darley Classic) and Russian Revolution (The Galaxy & Oakleigh Plate).

Champion USA stallion Tapit heads Vinery’s draft with colts from Seeking (Lot 345) and Smart Farming (Lot 361).

Tapit is one of the most influential sires of the modern era in Kentucky.  He was a Group 1 winner of the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct and stands at Gainesway Farm for a $300,000 service fee.

The incomparable grey stallion was North America’s champion sire in 2014, 2015 & 2016 and finished in the Top 5 last year when his leading earner was Belmont Stakes Gr.1 winner Tapwrit.

There have been 24 Group 1 winners to date among 106 stakes winners.  And his superiority has been reflected in the sale-ring with over 20 yearlings knocked down for $1 million or more at auction.

The Tapit – Seeking (Mizzen Mast) grey colt received a black-type update in January when his dam’s half-sister In The Navy Now won the Nellie Morse Stakes LR at Laurel.  Another half-sister Nefertini had won the Go For Wand Hcp Gr.2 at Aqueduct in 2012.

Vinery’s Tapit colt from Smart Farming (Smart Strike) is a half-brother to Rocketry who earned a “TDN Rising Star” award after winning a Belmont maiden last June.  He was 10 lengths off a quick clip before going into overdrive for a four-length victory under Jose Ortiz.

Rocketry followed up with an allowance victory at Saratoga and then finished fourth in the Saranac Stakes Gr.3 at the Spa.  He resumed for a solid second in a tough field at Gulfstream Park last month and trainer Jimmy Jerkens is excited to see what the year ahead holds for the son of Hard Spun.

Vinery legend More Than Ready has a Hallowell Belle filly (Lot 163) that takes some beating in the pedigree department.  Her dam was trained by Gai Waterhouse to defeat Spirit Of Boom in the 2012 Gilgai Stakes Gr.2 at Flemington and she was also Group 1 placed in a T J Smith at Randwick and Darley Classic at Flemington.

The More Than Ready connection will boost her value if his Victoria Derby winner Prized Icon claims another Group 1 in the Doncaster Hcp at Randwick three days before she goes through the ring.

Vinery sire All Too Hard has fillies from Group 1 mares Sacred Choice (Lot 338) and Snitzerland (Lot 363).  Sacred Choice (Choisir) won a Doncaster Hcp at Randwick and Myer Classic at Flemington while Snitzerland was successful in a Lightning Stakes at Flemington.

Apart from consignments brimming with quality, Vinery has met the market at all the yearling sales so far this year.  Of the 55 yearlings to parade – 49 have found new homes.

ROCKETRY