Vinery Stud returns to Melbourne with a quality consignment of black-type yearlings catalogued for the Inglis Premier Sale.
Melbourne is home away from home for Vinery with its Premier yearlings joining an Australian roll-call of sale graduates like Atlantic Jewel (3 x Gr.1 at Caulfield), Samaready (MVRC Moir Stakes Gr.1) and Shamus Award (MVRC Cox Plate Gr.1)
Vinery legend More Than Ready has a classic connection in Victoria – his most recent Group 1 down south was in the 2016 Victoria Derby with Prized Icon. His first was with Benicio in the 2005 Victoria Derby.
More Than Ready’s Melbourne Premier colt from Extension of Time (Lot 377) is a half-brother to rising Hong Kong star Noble Steed. The Australian import broke through for his first win at Sha Tin in December with a performance that drew praise from Brett Prebble.
“It was my race to win whenever I wanted to press him,” he said. “I actually hung on but couldn’t wait any longer and sent him clear. He could have been Hong Kong Derby horse if it was run a month or two later.”
All Too Hard colt Villermont is shaping up as the next Group 1 winner to carry Vinery’s brand in Melbourne. A stirring winner of the Sandown Guineas Gr.2 in November, he is preparing for a Group 1 assignment in the Australian Guineas at Flemington on March 3.
Last year’s Premier Sale was a resounding success for All Too Hard – his second-crop daughter from Fuhrnatic (Flying Spur) was the top-priced filly presented at Oaklands when making $500,000. Registered as Reginae, she is with trainer Kris Lees for part-owners Orbis Bloodstock and Rob Crabtree.
Vinery also sold a $200,000 All Too Hard – Skye Gold colt to Tony McEvoy at the 2017 Melbourne Premier. And a year before, Vinery sold his older brother Jomo for $100,000 at Oaklands.
Jomo looks a bright prospect for Bjorn Baker following an ultra-impressive Kembla Grange trial on February 14. Baker won all five hit-outs over 800m and Jomo was fastest in 46.29s.
All Too Hard winners are arriving in numbers and now his second-crop are beginning to make an impact with autumn approaching. Team Hawkes colt Outrageous leads the 2yo team with a Group 1 nomination for the $1 million Inglis Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on April 7.
Outrageous started a $1.40 favourite to break his maiden at Newcastle on February 11 and he impressed Dwayne Dunn despite the narrow margin. “I just let him get into a rhythm before sprinting home. He’s not sharp enough for the Golden Slipper but he hits the line strong and is right in the Sires’ Produce.”
Vinery has another All Too Hard link with a coming Team Hawkes winner when Lot 43 parades on Sunday, March 4. The colt from Roman Treasure (USA) is a younger brother of late-blooming Byzantium who was runner-up at Gosford last-time out when resuming from a spring spell.
All Too Hard also sells a half-brother to SAJC Fillies Classic Gr.3 winner Ana Royale (Lot 125) and, later at Premier, he has a filly and colt from stakes performing mares Walk in the Park (Lot 209) and More Radiant (Lot 532).
NOBLE STEED