Shortly after news broke that John Singleton had relinquished his share in Magic Millions to Gerry Harvey, it emerged he had also sold his stake in Vinery Stud.

Singleton will maintain his commitment to Vinery’s stallions and he has just purchased the southern breeding rights to 2010 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Pluck.  The More Than Ready colt will shuttle to Vinery starting in 2011 or 2012.

Singleton owns Central Coast showpiece Strawberry Hills which is home to Group 1 mares Sunday Joy, Ha Ha, Tuesday Joy, Universal Queen, Milva and Samantha Miss.

Another with a bright future as a Strawberry Hills broodmare is the Gai Waterhouse trained More Joyous who won her third Group 1 in the MRC Toorak Handicap at Caulfield in October.  Singleton’s greeted the victory with a quote typical of Australia’s alpha ad-man.  “Life is simple, you buy a More Than Ready, send them to Gai and they send you cheques!”

Singleton’s sale is the latest in several changes of ownership over recent years at Vinery.  

Originally known as Segenhoe Stud, it was home for many years to astute breeder Lionel Israel.  He stood Kaoru Star who was a cornerstone in the growing influence of the colonial bred stallion in the 1970s.

Finance whiz Michael Sissian owned the stud from 1989 to 1998 before selling to Vinery’s American based owned George Hoffmeister.

Shortly after Vinery began shuttling stallions between its Kentucky base and Australia, the entire dual hemisphere operation was bought by Tom Simon.  

That takeover coincided with the arrival of champion sire Red Ransom.  Simon and general manager Peter Orton followed up with More Than Ready and Vinery quickly developed into a genuine Hunter Valley heavyweight.

In 2005, Singleton and Harvey joined forces with Simon in forming an Australian partnership to direct Vinery.  “They are great blokes at Vinery,” Singo said after announcing the sale on Friday.  “And I’ve still retained my shares in Big Brown, More Than Ready and Testa Rossa.”