Vinery shuttler Congrats has unearthed another potential star from his second crop in North America.

Applauding (2f Congrats – Andria’s Forest by Forestry) scored a stunning 9 length victory on debut at Keeneland on Friday.  She set a new track record of 1.07.60s for1200 metres.

Trainer by Al Stall Jr, the chestnut filly challenged for the lead rounding the turn and accelerated away under Garrett Gomez.  She is out of a half-sister to Group 2 winning racehorse and top sire Crafty C. T. (Crafty Prospector).

Applauding was bred by Brylynn Farm and was a $50,000 buy at the Ocala yearling sale in August 2010.  She was re-offered at the Fasig-Tipton 2YO Sale in Florida in February when Ramona Bass upped the ante to $370,000

Congrats (A P Indy) is currently serving his first southern book of 120 mares at Vinery for a $22,000 (inc gst) fee.

Awarded Champion USA first-season honours in 2010, Congrats has kept the momentum going this year and has now sired 70 winners of 142 races at a 61% strike-rate.   

His California-based filly Turbulent Descent is gearing up for the G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Churchill Downs in November.  She is last-start winner of the G1 Test Stakes at Saratoga – her third at elite level – following the Hollywood Starlet Stakes and Santa Anita Oaks.