Vinery stallions More Than Ready and Mossman produced more black-type prospects on Wednesday at Canterbury and Launceston.
MORE THAN BRAVE (4m More Than Ready – Brave Choice by Dr Fong) won second-up after a 33 week spell at Randwick on New Year’s Day and she went right on with the job in the Instagram @ ATC Races Hcp (1250m) at Canterbury.
The John O’Shea trained chestnut missed the jump by at least two lengths before sprinting home to defeat Darley homebred Chiaroscuro (Lonhro).
The lightly-raced mare is owned by Ron Finemore and John Leaver after making $300,000 at the 2011 Inglis Easter yearling sale. She’s bred to get over ground – her dam Brave Choice won at 2100m for the late Tony Wildman and second-dam Bravery claimed the 1988 Queensland Derby – Oaks double.
“She blew the start badly so it was a good effort,” O’Shea said. “I will find a good Saturday race for her now and then look at getting some black type.”
More Than Ready has sired 119 stakes winners and his latest crop of yearlings averaged $225,000 at the Gold Coast Magic Millions. The Vinery champion topped the Saturday evening session with a $600,000 colt from a stakes performed daughter of Golden Slipper winner Polar Success.
Mossman flyer Admiral scored a memorable victory for trainer Barry Campbell in the Alfa Bowl (1100m) in Tasmania on Wednesday evening.
ADMIRAL (2g Mossman – Reunification by West Quest) broke the track-record clocking 63.79s without being fully wound up. “I trained Alfa before he was transferred to Bart Cummings so this is pretty special,” Campbell explained. “Admiral is a very good horse and he came home the last 800m in 45 and a bit seconds which is low flying.”
Alfa is rising 21 and has a home for life at Campbell’s Spreyton property. He led the field into the mounting yard before the race named in his honour.
Admiral settled just behind the speed set by unbeaten youngster Geegees Doublejay until balancing up in the straight. Top jockey Brendon McCoull eased his charge off the fence and then powered past the leader. He is raced by part-owner and breeder Bruno Calabro along with Ron and Trudy Schwanke and Denise Martin of Star Thoroughbreds.
Campbell will now set Admiral for the LR Elwick Stakes in Hobart on February 2.
Mossman was one of the most profitable sires at the Gold Coast Magic Millions with 6 yearlings averaging $122,500 off a service fee of $27,500 in 2011. He has another 3 yearlings entered for the Inglis Classic Summer yearling sale starting this Sunday.
Vinery has 11 lots catalogued for the Classic Sale including yearlings by its resident stallions Big Brown (6), Dubleo (1), Onemorenomore (1) and Myboycharlie (1).
ADMIRAL
Brilliant winner of the Alfa Bowl
Photo / Peter Staples