The Vinery team have been busy with inspections at Oaklands ahead of the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale commencing on Sunday.
The first yearlings by Press Statement have been well-received during pre-sale parades and Vinery has two of the most popular among the 14 catalogued in Melbourne. He’s already set a precedent with sales of $340,000 at the Gold Coast Magic Millions and $270,000 at the Inglis Sydney Classic.
“The Press Statements are athletic individuals and very much in the mould of his sire Hinchinbrook,” Vinery’s bloodstock manager Adam White said on Thursday. “Our two colts have been very popular here and they’re both from good producers.”
Lot 134 is a half-brother to Sheezdashing (Myboycharlie) who was Group 1 placed in the South Australian and Queensland Oaks last year. She returns for an autumn campaign in the Frances Tressady Stakes Gr.3 at Flemington on Saturday.
“She’s come back in good order although the firm track is a question mark,” co-trainer Simon Zahra said. “She trialled well last week and loves Flemington. She will run a good race but there’s a lot to come for her in Sydney.”
Sheezdashing will tackle stablemate Aristia who also resumes after ground-breaking spring victories in the Wakeful Stakes Gr.2 and VRC Oaks Gr.1 at headquarters. The Lonhro filly was an $80,000 graduate of Vinery’s draft at the 2017 Inglis Easter Sale. “Aristia looks great and we can’t really fault her,” Zahra added earlier this week. “Sydney is also on the cards for her and whether the 1400m is a bit sharp first-up, time will tell.”
Vinery’s other Press Statement at Oaklands (Lot 426) is the half-brother to boom sire Better Than Ready. Their dam Sally’s World has also foaled Ascot-winning filly Sally’s Realm by More Than Ready.
Not surprisingly, White reports Vinery’s sole More Than Ready is drawing more than her share of attention at Barn C. Catalogued as Lot 319, she’s a half-sister to Pinker Pinker who maintains rare company as the winner of the 2011 Cox Plate. The only other mares on the Cox Plate roll-call since the turn of the century have been Sunline, Makybe Diva and Winx!
More Than Ready has several stakes prospects in Australia and New Zealand this Saturday starting with Still Single in the Sweet Embrace Stakes Gr.2 at Randwick. A $500,000 buy for Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay at the 2018 Gold Coast Magic Millions, she put the writing on the wall with a gutsy second to smart colt Deep Chill at Warwick Farm a fortnight ago.
Creative Hero became the 191st stakes winner by the Vinery legend in the Challenge Stakes LR at Ascot last month and will be fancied to make it a black-type double in the Lex Piper Stakes LR.
He will be stepping up to a mile but champion jockey Willie Pike has elected to ride stablemate Regal Power. “I had a talk to William but didn’t want to influence him,” owner Bob Peters said. “It’s only 100m further and Creative Hero can be put into the race wherever he wants.”
Vinery sires are well-placed for a Group 1 double at Ellerslie in the Waikato Stud Plate with Spring Heat (More Than Ready) and the NZ Derby with More Wonder (Mossman).
Spring Heat is the $4.80 equal-favourite following unlucky runs at her last two starts. The saddle slipped and she took no part in the Concorde Hcp in January and she was caught wide when fourth in the Dunstan Feeds 1200 last time. Glen Boss has been called on to take over the reins by trainer Lance O’Sullivan.
More Wonder has also been the victim of troubled transits at Group 1 level this year. He didn’t see daylight in the Levin Classic and was badly inconvenienced in the Thorndon Mile before running home late in the Haunui Farm Classic.
“I think he’s a really good horse and should have won a Group 1 by now,” trainer Graeme Rogerson declared. “I’ve nominated him for the Australian Derby and, all going well, might even run him against Winx in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes!”
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PRESS STATEMENT – DASHING OBERON COLT