The Australian breeding industry is as strong as ever with this year’s sale records again being surpassed at all levels. There is however, a feeling of uncertainty regarding the sustainability of continued growth and ways we as breeders can best maximise our future returns. With the number of stallions on offer it can be daunting for breeders selecting stallions for their mares, endeavouring to produce a healthy return on their service fee investment either on the racetrack or in the in the sale ring.

I believe the Vinery Stallion line up offers great diversity and depth, not only strongly suited to our local conditions and market but also internationally appealing. Each of our stallions foals (soundness) and winners to runners (ability).

The Vinery stallions offer an abundance of both.

After building strong foundations, our four proven stallions Red Ransom, More Than Ready, Testa Rossa and Mossman are set to rise to great heights with the books of quality mares covered in the last few seasons.

More Than Ready has had the best of mares in the last two years on the back of achieving the Champion First Season Sire crown. He sired a massive seven Stakes winners in his first crop including three Group1 winners, proving to the industry what a great stallion he could be for the future. Interestingly, two of his Group1 winners were out of Danehill mares; we may have unearthed ‘the’ Danehill out cross yet!

Testa Rossa came from covering a number of quality, good size books in Victoria achieving great success on the track from his first crops. A most consistent stallion, he is already established within the top twenty sires in the country with just three crops of racing age. Since relocating to the Hunter Valley where he attracted an outstanding book of quality mares, he is set to continue his success into the future. Testa Rossa was an exciting racehorse winning at Group1 level at two, three and four, amassing a total of 6 Group1 wins.

Mossman has had phenomenal results at stud from most modest books and now finally, has covered large books of quality mares in his last two seasons. We can’t wait to see what he will do now that he has very deservedly entered the quality main stream.

Red Ransom returns to Australia for his last season in 2007 and what an opportune time to breed to such an internationally successful sire. Red Ransom has done an enormous job at stud since coming to Australia, operating from restricted books he has figured highly in the sires list each year. His current unraced crops are from increased books of top quality mares making us very optimistic for his future. Red Ransom’s legacy here will be quite extensive through his daughters as outcrosses and already with his sons at Stud such as Charge Forward, Face Value and Domesday.

Benicio has started his career at stud in great style, covering 100 quality mares and we look forward with great enthusiasm. He has let down into a magnificent stallion, is super fertile like his father and with his pedigree and race performance his future looks particularly bright.

Dubleo like More Than Ready, is by Southern Halo and we couldn’t be happier with his first foals born last season. He was such a precocious horse himself, running nine times as a 2yr old, winning 6 and placing in 2; all on turf. Dubleo’s foals show much of this precocity with good size and great power through their quarters. He offers a great opportunity to follow the More Than Ready trend for Danehill line mares at real value.

Excites as a racehorse showed what we look for in a stallion; sheer brilliance. He was a genuine class horse, most unlucky not to have recorded many more wins than he did. However, Excites did win a Group1 as a 2 year old and went on to perform at the classic Group1 level as a 3 year old, racing against the best horses in the country at that time. Not a bad effort for a horse robbed of the opportunity to show his true capability.

I would like the opportunity to welcome you to Vinery anytime to see our stallions and facilities.

Best wishes for a successful 2007 breeding season.

PETER ORTON

More Accord (3YO B.F.) 
By: More Than Ready (USA)

From: One Accord (by El Gran Senor)

29 June 2008, Sun Ray Park Overnight Stakes (L), 1300m

Owners: Cleber J Massey

Breeder: Cleber J Massey

Trainer: Marr Joel

9 starts 3 - 2 - 0 $US56,427

45th Stakes winner for More Than Ready