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mysite blog http://www.vinery.com.au/news/ ANOTHER SWEET VICTORY FOR EXCITES http://www.vinery.com.au/another-sweet-victory-for-excites/ EXCITES gelding Sweet Serendipity is destined for a bright future after he made the $100,000 Inglis 2YO Challenge (1100m) a one-act affair on the opening day of the Scone Cup carnival on Friday.
The Jason Coyle-trained youngster had plenty of admirers ahead of his debut given an outstanding 3.3-lens trial win at Warwick Farm only 7-days earlier.
Sweet Serendipity showed superior pace to take up the running with jockey Kathy O'Hara was swinging off the horse on straightening.
O'Hara released the brakes inside the final 200m as Sweet Serendipity opened up to post a comprehensive 2.8-lens win.
The effort netted connections $82,850 including a $20,000 bonus courtesy of a BOBS top-up.
Sweet Serendipity continues an extraordinary `run' for Excites who has been represented in recent weeks by SA stakeswinner Excites Zelady as well as Wagga Gold Cup winner Scream Machine, also trained by Coyle.
Sweet Serendipity is the 11th foal of Rory's Jester mare Sweet Rory whose previous offspring include the stakes-placed Sweet Chloe who won the 2001 equivalent of the Inglis Challenge. Mon, 20 May 2013 08:23:12 +1000 http://www.vinery.com.au/another-sweet-victory-for-excites/ TESTA ROSSA DOMINATES SCONE http://www.vinery.com.au/testa-rossa-dominates-scone/ A HORROR draw wasn't enough to prevent quality Testa Rossa filly Rosalie from bursting back to her best form to take out the Dane Shadow Handicap (1600m) on Scone Cup last Friday.
The Bart Cummings-trained 3YO was coming off her worst career performance yet when finishing last in the James HB Carr Stakes at Randwick.
Her form prior was much more indicative of her ability including a last-to-first win at Canterbury when she resumed at the top of her current campaign.
Rosalie drew barrier 15 in the 16-horse field at Scone but was still able to pull away from her rivals to take out the race by almost 2-lens at the finish.
Foaled in New Zealand, Rosalie is out of a Zabeel and was sold for $87,500 to Cups King Bart Cummings at the NZB Premier Yearling Sale in 2011.
Scone Cup day proved to be an all-out triumph for Testa Rossa who supplied the feature race winner Speediness, one of 46 stakes winners by his sire. Mon, 20 May 2013 08:14:20 +1000 http://www.vinery.com.au/testa-rossa-dominates-scone/ DOUBLE POCKETS FILLS DEEP POCKETS http://www.vinery.com.au/double-pockets-fills-deep-pockets/ DUBLEO gelding Double Pockets made the perfect start to his racing career when he arrived in time to take out the SAJC Hindmarsh Plumbing Handicap (1000m) at Morphettville Parks on Saturday.
Trained at Murray Bridge by Sue Nolen, Double Pockets was very well backed at $4.20 debuted off successive trials wins at home and at Morphettville; his most recent hit-out just 5-days ago.
A near replica version of his sire, Double Pockets has is out of an unraced mare by Way of Light who also stood at Vinery for a handful of seasons.
Double Pockets is his dam's first foal and is a member of the same family as blow-out 1999 Doncaster winner Merimbula Bay. Mon, 20 May 2013 08:07:32 +1000 http://www.vinery.com.au/double-pockets-fills-deep-pockets/ FAST PACE PIANIST LEAD MERRY DANCE http://www.vinery.com.au/fast-pace-pianist-lead-merry-dance/ MORE Than Ready filly Pianist went within a fraction of setting a new course record at Pimlico when she led from the front to win the Grade 3 Gallorette Stakes ( 1 116m) on the Preakness undercard on Sunday.
Already a stakeswinner, the Chad Brown trained filly pinged the lids to set up a clear early led under jockey Mike Smith.
She was never really challenged at any stage powering away from her rivals to win by 2 3/4-lens in a time of 1:40.60s, a shade off the current Pimlico benchmark time for the journey of 1:40.32s established by multiple Grade 1 winner Precious Kitten in the 2007 Gallorette.
"I thought the fractions were a little strong but I just left it to the riders. I said 'You just judge the pace'," trainer Chad Brown told ESPN.
"I didn't give them any figures. She looked great, although it looked like Samitar wasn't holding the track on the backstretch."
Pianist was bred in Kentucky by the Grapestock breeding division of Tm Simon's Vinery (USA) arm and is a daughter of Red Ransom mare Red Piano.
Pianist is one of 116 individual stakes winners sired by More Than Ready so far, it was her second black-type victory following the LR Given Stakes at Belmont last September. Mon, 20 May 2013 07:59:41 +1000 http://www.vinery.com.au/fast-pace-pianist-lead-merry-dance/ TESTA ROSSA UPSTAGES ALL TOO HARD http://www.vinery.com.au/testa-rossa-upstages-all-too-hard/ All Too Hard has been the star attraction at Vinery’s open days this week but it was Testa Rossa who took centre-stage just up the New England Hwy during the two-day Scone carnival.
Testa Rossa sired Speediness to win the $200,000 Scone Cup (L) on Friday and he struck again with Fontelina in the LR Luskin Star Stakes on Saturday.
Jockey Christian Reith acknowledged the winner's bravery in bagging his sixth race win from 21 starts.
"He was absolutely bolting in the run ... he was never going to get beat," Reith said.
"But I knew he would get tired late and I just hoped that I had kicked enough for the others not to catch me."
Speediness has displayed an obvious fondness for the Scone track having been runner-up to subsequent dual Group 1 winner Sincero in the 2011 Inglis Guineas (1400m).
Fontelina (4g Testa Rossa – Decipher by Timber Country) cruised home under a perfect front-running ride by Peter Robl. He will now be set for the G1 Stradbroke Hcp at Eagle Farm next month.
“He ran home the last 600m in 33.5 seconds so they had no hope of catching him,” trainer Anthony Cummings said. “He will go into the Stradbroke without another start. He’s been running well behind Pierro at weight-for-age and he brought that form here.”
Fontelina first came to attention with a brilliant victory in the LR Doomben Slipper in May 2011. He then added a Group 2 in the Yellowglen Stakes during last year’s Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington.
Bred by Gerry Harvey, Fontelina was a $135,000 graduate of the 2010 Magic Millions HIT Sale. He has an unnamed 2yo brother on the books with Cummings and their dam Decipher has a yearling colt by Tavistock.
Decipher foaled a filly by Makfi last November. The 2010 English 2000 Guineas winner shuttles to Harvey’s NZ based Westbury Stud.
Fontelina’s second dam Electrique (Zephyr Zip) was a Group 1 winner of the AJC Flight Stakes at Randwick and the STC Ansett Stakes at Rosehill in 1991-92.
Testa Rossa is gearing up for his 8th book at Vinery this year where he will stand for a $27,500 (inc gst) service fee.
 
Hoofnote: Vinery champion More Than Ready muscled in for a share of the spotlight overnight on the Preakness Stakes program in the USA.
His top-class mare Pianist won the G3 Gallorette Hcp (1700m) by three lengths at Pimlico. It was her second black-type victory following the LR Given Stakes at Belmont last September. Mon, 20 May 2013 07:51:05 +1000 http://www.vinery.com.au/testa-rossa-upstages-all-too-hard/ BIG BROWN & CONGRATS FILLIES STEP OUT http://www.vinery.com.au/big-brown-and-congrats-fillies-step-out/ ‘VINERY duo' Toasting (Congrats) and Maracuya (first crop Big Brown) finished alongside each other in third and fourth positions in this morning's $500,000 Grade 2 Black Eyes Susan Stakes (1 1/18m) on the Preakness undercard at Pimlico.
The third placed Congrats filly Toasting was already a Grade 1 placegetter courtesy of her outstanding performance in the Frizette this time almost a year ago.
Taking nothing away from Toasting's effort, the previously undefeated Big Brown filly Maracuya won a lot of new fans with her fourth placing given it was only her third career start.
A first crop daughter of the Kentucky Derby/Preakness winner, Maracuya had won both of her previous starts at Gulfstream Park in comfortable fashion.
Trained by Texas born conditioner Ralph Nicks, Maracuya is one of 28 individual winners sired by Big Brown and one 16 in 2013 alone. Mon, 20 May 2013 07:44:47 +1000 http://www.vinery.com.au/big-brown-and-congrats-fillies-step-out/ UNBEATEN BIG BROWN TO Gr.II http://www.vinery.com.au/unbeaten-big-brown-to-gr-ii/ THIS weekend's Grade 2 $500,000 Black Eyed Susan Stakes on Pimlico's Preakness card shapes as a battle of the progeny of two Vinery stallions with former USA Freshman Champion Congrats up against rising star Big Brown.
Congrats filly Toasting seeks to add a major to her Grade 1 placing in the Frizette Stakes lodged in the middle of last year at Belmont Park in New York. A win would see her become Congrats' fourth Grade 1 winner alongside the likes of WTR champion Turbulent Descent who won a total of four Grade 1's during her brilliant career. Congrats has built on his tremendous first season with multiple crops of major race winners underpinned by a remarkable 75.7 percent winers to ratio serving up 128 individual race winners from 169 runners. He is also the sire of 27 stakes performers. The Florida bred filly is guaranteed a serious rival for the Black Eyed purse via Big Brown 3YO Maracuya who remains unbeaten after her only two runs both at Gulfstream Park. The Ralph Nicks trained filly debuted with a comfortable win in her maiden over 1200m on March 6 before an ever easier win over the mile at the end of the month.
 Pimlico racetrack is synomous with Big Brown, it was the scene of his thumping 5 1/4-lens win in the 2008 Preakness immediately following his record breaking 4 3/4-lens win in the Kentucky Derby. Big Brown has risen to become one of the world's most promising young sires with a total of 28 winners around the globe - 16 of them in 2013 so far - including 2 stakeswinners. And just next week he will be represented in the prestigious Japan Derby (2400m) by crack colt Apollo Sonic who was beaten a nose in the Group 1 Satsuki Sho at his last start. Fri, 17 May 2013 07:51:41 +1000 http://www.vinery.com.au/unbeaten-big-brown-to-gr-ii/ EXCITES APLENTY AT SCONE CUP http://www.vinery.com.au/excites-aplenty-at-scone-cup/ Excites is set for a triumphant period at Scone's annual two-day racing carnival with the real prospect of sweeping the Inglis 2YO Challenge/3YO Guineas and Scone Cup treble.
Excites' `fan' Jason Coyle will use the $100,000 Inglis 2YO Challenge as the starting for point for promising gelding Sweet Serendipity who stormed to a 3.3-lens win in a recent 800m barrier trial at Warwick Farm.
Sweet Serendipity is the 11th foal of Rory's Jester mare Sweet Rory whose previous offspring boast the stakes placed Sweet Chloe who happened to win the 2001 version of the Inglis 2YO Challenge.
Later on in the day, Coyle saddles up stable gun Scream Machine who will have plenty of admirers in the feature Scone Cup after his win in the Listed Wagga Gold Cup (2000m) on May 3.
Scream Machine has won 5 races from 21 starts with earnings over close to $375,000.
Saturday's standalone is highlighted by the $500,000 Inglis Guineas (1400m) where Excites son Red Excitement lines-up for his third start for new trainer Gerald Ryan.
Red Excitement has drawn barrier 5 which will allow the gelding to step into the running line from the outset.
Already a winner of $175,000 Red Excitement is owned (in partnership) by prominent and popular industry figures Glenn and Viive Williams.
Meanwhile across in Adelaide, the David Jolly trained 3YO Excitate is out to build on his all-the-way debut win at Strathalbyn when he tackles the SAJC Fred Worthley Memorial Handicap (1300m) at Morphettville Parks.
 
<h4>EXCITES ON FIRE</h4>
EXCITES filly Logical Outcome handed her rivals a punishing defeat when she charged away for a 4.8-lens win at Toowoomba on Thursday over 1300m.
The Murwillumbah trained 3YO tracked the speed in third place before exploding away to post an emphatic win.
Logical Outcome is maternal son of stakeswinner Law Of Logic (by Zeditave) who took out the Keith Mackay Stakes before going to throw 7 winners from as many to race. Fri, 17 May 2013 07:26:57 +1000 http://www.vinery.com.au/excites-aplenty-at-scone-cup/ BOOM BROWN http://www.vinery.com.au/boom-brown/ BIG BROWN BROOKSKI became her Kentucky Derby/Preakness Stakes champion's 28th individual winner - his 16th in 2013 already - when she won over 1400m at Woodbine in Canada on Sunday.
Bred in Kentucky and foaled in Ontario, Big Brown Brookski was finished fifth over 1200 on debut at Keeneland on April 24 before stepping up to the 1400 today.
She obviously drew great benefit from the her first start powering past her rivals midstretch to post a comfortable 1-lens win.
 
Big Brown has now sired two first crop Stakes winner's, both on the turf and his third first crop stakes winner mightn't be far away with Apollo Sonic entered in the Gr.1 Japan Derby next weekend or Maracuya in the $500,000 BLACK-EYED SUSAN S Gr.2, 3yo, f, 1 1/8m
1 Manuka Honey Borrego 
2 Lady Banks Successful Appeal 
3 Fiftyshadesofhay Pulpit 
4 Petit Trianon Latent Heat 
5 Walkwithapurpose Candy Ride (Arg) 
6 Maracuya Big Brown 
7 Emollient Empire Maker 
8 Toasting Congrats 
9 Marathon Lady Graeme Hall 
 
Big Brown is not far off from making a triumphant return to Vinery to resume his stud career after missing out last season due to a minor injury.
His first Australian bred yearling will turn two on August 1. Mon, 13 May 2013 14:54:41 +1000 http://www.vinery.com.au/boom-brown/ VIVA VIVI! EIGHTH AUST BRED STAKES WINNER http://www.vinery.com.au/viva-vivi-eighth-aust-bred-stakes-winner/ MORE Than Ready 2yo Vivi Veloce will be set for a Group 1 spring campaign after a breakthrough victory in the G3 National 2YO Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville.
The More Than Ready filly settled in the second-half of the field but had them covered in the straight to defeat Iconic (Bel Esprit) and The Huntress (Husson) on Saturday. She was coming off an unlucky fifth behind Calcatta in the LR Dequetteville Stakes last month.
“She’s the best two-year-old I’ve had,” a clearly excited trainer Lloyd Kennewell claimed. “We’re going to set her for the G1 Thousand Guineas in October.”
Kennewell won the 2007 National Stakes with Gabbidon when it was known as The Jansz. She returned that spring to claim the G3 Guineas Prelude at Caulfield but went amiss before the Thousand Guineas. Both fillies race for Alpara Lodge owner Greg White.
Vivi Veloce (2f More Than Ready – Royal Sash by Royal Academy) is the third winner for her dam who won the 2004 Mannerism Stakes at Caulfield carrying White’s red, white and blue colours. Royal Sash has a yearling filly by Street Cry and is back in foal to the Darley shuttler.
Vinery champion More Than Ready has sired three juvenile stakes winners this season. His Adelaide filly follows Romantic Moon (G3 ATC Sweet Embrace St) and Excitable Boy (LR VRC Festival Of Racing 1000).
More Than Ready (Southern Halo) has an overall record of 115 individual stakes winners of 221 stakes races. Vinery will stand him for a $99,000 (inc gst) service fee this year.
<h3>2013 Stakes Winners</h3>
23/02/2013 Better Than Ready (AUS)2009 BRC Falvelon H., L., 1200m.
24/02/2013 Stopshoppingmaria (USA)2009 Gulfstream Ladies Turf Sprint S., L., 1000m.
02/03/2013 Excitable Boy (AUS)2010 VRC Festival of Racing S., L., 1000m.
06/03/2013 More Than Sacred (AUS)2009 ARC Sunline Vase, Gr.3, 2100m.
09/03/2013 Verrazano (USA)2010 Tampa Bay Tampa Bay Derby, Gr.2, 1700m.
09/03/2013 Moreish (AUS)2009 WATC Ascot One Thousand Guineas, L., 1800m.
16/03/2013 Romantic Moon (AUS)2010 ATC Sweet Embrace S., Gr.3, 1200m.
16/03/2013 More Than Sacred (AUS)2009 WRC New Zealand Oaks, Gr.1, 2400m.
23/03/2013 Ready to Rip (AUS)2007 MRC Thoroughbred Club Cup, L., 1200m.
23/03/2013 Moreish (AUS)2009 WATC Natasha S., L., 2200m.
06/04/2013 Moreish (AUS)2009 WATC Western Australian Oaks, Gr.3, 2400m.
06/04/2013 Verrazano (USA)2010 Aqueduct Wood Memorial S., Gr.1, 1800m.
20/04/2013 Better Than Ready (AUS)2009 BRC Mick Dittman P., L., 1000m.
05/05/2013 Readytogorightnow (AUS)2009 Kenilworth Winter Guineas, Gr.3, 1600m.
11/05/2013 Vivi Veloce (AUS)2010 SAJC National S., Gr.3, 1200m. Sun, 12 May 2013 12:01:11 +1000 http://www.vinery.com.au/viva-vivi-eighth-aust-bred-stakes-winner/ FIRST START, FIRST FRENCH WINNER http://www.vinery.com.au/first-start-first-french-winner/ VINERY resident Myboycharlie opened his European winners account when first crop son Salai won on debut in France over 1100m last night.
Salai (2c Myboycharlie – Mabadi (by Sahm)) prevailed by three-quarters of a length in the Prix De Lannemezan (1100m) at Tarbes in wet conditions. <a title="Myboycharlie colt wins on debut" href="http://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/members/video/equidia.cfm?id=573" target="_blank">REPLAY HERE</a>
Salai jumped well on debut but took hold and settled at the rear of the pack, two off the fence. The 2yo Myboycharlie colt swung three-wide entering the straight and quickened well under hands and heels to win comfortably by three quarters of a length. The colt was not extended and
Leading trainer Jean-Claude Rouget bought him for 55,000 euros at the 2012 Arqana October Yearling Sale.
Australian owned SF Bloodstock bred the winner from Mabadi (USA), a three year-old winner at Chester in July 2006 before moving to California where she was G2 placed at Santa Anita.
Myboycharlie (Danetime) was a G1 winner of the 2007 Prix Morny and he began shuttling to Vinery Stud from the English National Stud. He later changed bases in the northern hemisphere to Haras du Mezeray in Normandy. 
<div class="captionImage left" style="width: 569px; height: 367px;"><img class="left" src="http://www.vinery.com.au/assets/Stallions/Myboycharlie/_resampled/resizedimage450345-MBC-conf-1-bretouched-lr.jpg" alt="Vinery stallion Myboycharlie" title="Vinery stallion Myboycharlie" width="450" height="345"/> 
</div>
 Vinery stallion Myboycharlie
The first Myboycharlie two year-olds are also up and running in Australian &amp; NZ with 4 winners from 13 starters to date including the G2 stakes-placed duo of Charlie Boy and Charlestown.
First crop daughter Artistic Lass is aiming to add to the Danehill grandson's tally when she lines-up in tomorrow's Centrebet Juvenile Stayer (1800m) at Rosehill.
Vinery will stand him for a fifth southern season this year at a $16,500 (inc gst) service fee. Fri, 10 May 2013 13:30:00 +1000 http://www.vinery.com.au/first-start-first-french-winner/ BUFFERING TO BREAK GROUP ONE HOODOO http://www.vinery.com.au/buffering-to-break-group-one-hoodoo/ PUNTERS around Australia believe Mossman son Buffering will finally crack it for a well-earned Group 1 win on Saturday when he tackles the B.T.C Sprint (1200m) at Eagle Farm.
The Robert Heathcote trained gelding has been posted as the $2.60 favourite to take out the $400,000 feature. 
No stranger to Group One races, Buffering has finished second on four occasions at the highest level and placed third another three times.
Buffering's rider Damian Browne told Sportsman he was rapt with Buffering's trackwork on Tuesday and feels tackling the Cup second-up gives him his best chance of a Group 1 win.
"His first-up and second-up records are his best and not going down to Sydney has ended up a blessing,'' Browne said.
"It's that time now where somebody else has to step up and I can't think of a horse that deserves to be up there as much as him.
"He can handle most going and he proved at Caulfield in the spring that he can take a sit so he is not one dimensional.''
 
Buffering has won four of his seven starts at Eagle Farm and arguably his best performance came at the course last year when he sat wide with 58kg and finished second in the Stradbroke. Fri, 10 May 2013 09:30:00 +1000 http://www.vinery.com.au/buffering-to-break-group-one-hoodoo/ DUBLEO TO SCONE http://www.vinery.com.au/dubleo-to-scone/ DUBLEO mare Dublette continues to make every post a winner on her comeback trail recording her second win in her past three starts not long after returning from a year long absence from the racetrack.
The Allan Denham trained 6YO simply ran her rivals ragged to score a thumping win at her home track at Wyong on Thursday giving young apprentice Taylor Marshall, son of former champion jockey John, his first ever winner.
As for Dublette, it was her seventh career win alongside her 10 minor placings from a total of 34 starts.
Dublette is a daughter of the Hurricane Sky mare Leyenda who won at Warwick Farm and was third in the Scone 2YO Inglis Challenge.
Dublette was sold for $31,000 at the 2008 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and has earnings approaching $150,000. Fri, 10 May 2013 08:30:00 +1000 http://www.vinery.com.au/dubleo-to-scone/ BETTER THAN READY FOR BTC SPRINT http://www.vinery.com.au/better-than-ready-for-btc-sprint/ MORE Than Ready colt Better Than Ready could easily play the spoiler this weekend and deny Queensland idol Buffering a long waited Group 1 win in the B.T.C Cup (1200m) at Eagle Farm.
Better Then Ready has won 6 of his 10 starts and is the current 1100m track record holder at Randwick sizzling across the turf in a time of 1:8.19s when he won the Brian Crowley Stakes in the spring.
The 3YO arrives at Eagle Farm tomorrow off a dominant 1.3-lens win in the Listed BTC Mick Dittman Plate (1000m) at $1.60 favourite.
"A good pace would suit him, he can get off the speed and run on,'' trainer Kelly Schweida told Sportsman.
"He didn't get much of a chance to travel the other day, they whipped along a bit, and 1200m is better.
"I presume they will put a fair tempo on but I wouldn't think the two jockeys (Browne and Bowman) are going to carve each other up.''
Schweida said there is still improvement in Better Than Ready as he heads towards the Stradbroke and while not as well suited at weight-for-age he expects a big effort.
"The Stradbroke is probably his race on handicaps but it is a Group 1 and we'd like to win a Group 1 somewhere,'' he said.
"He's a nice horse on the way up and he worked super last Saturday and a first three finish would be ideal.'' Fri, 10 May 2013 08:30:00 +1000 http://www.vinery.com.au/better-than-ready-for-btc-sprint/ TESTA SECRET LOOKING FOR STAKES DOUBLE http://www.vinery.com.au/testa-secret-looking-for-stakes-double/ TESTA Rossa mare Testa Secret is striving for back-to-back Listed wins when she contests this weekend's Windsor Park Rotorua Stakes (1400m) at Arawa Park in New Zealand.
The Australian-bred chestnut has won or placed 11 times from her 18 starts including a come from behind win last start in the Listed Anzac Handicap (1600m) at Awapuni on April 25.
Earlier on, the Kevin Gray trained galloper kicked off her career with consecutive wins as a 2YO including in the Listed Castletown Stakes at Foxton.
Testa Secret trained on to place second in the Group 2 Eight Carat Stakes and the Gold Trail and Eulogy Stakes, both at Group 3 level.
Testa Secret is one of 46 stakeswinners and 492 winners sired by six-times Group 1 winner and perennial Top Ten ranked sire Testa Rossa so far. Fri, 10 May 2013 08:30:00 +1000 http://www.vinery.com.au/testa-secret-looking-for-stakes-double/ SCREAM MACHINE TO SCONE CUP http://www.vinery.com.au/scream-machine-to-scone-cup/ EXCITES gelding Scream Machine will be out to add next Friday's Listed $200,000 Scone Cup (1600m) to his thrilling last-to-first Wagga Wagga Gold Cup win (2000m) lodged on May 3 in the Riverina.
It was a well-deserved stakes win for the Jason Coyle trained four-year-old who is a member of his Group 1 winning sire's first crop.
"He did it the tough way (at Wagga) but now he's got his black type win and it's much deserved,'' Coyle said.
"He'd been just behind some nice horses at the carnival and probably had a couple of excuses at a few of those runs.''
 
Scream Machine's Scone Cup tilt will require the gelding to come back 400m in distance from his Wagga triumph.
"He has done it before although he had three weeks between runs when I took him back to a mile in the Goulburn Cup and he ran second to Kinnersley,'' Coyle said.
"This time we've only got the 14 days between runs but he's a very fit horse and we won't have to do a lot with him.
"I actually think the mile is going to suit him with a nice tempo in front. I don't think it's going to be a drama.''
 
Meanwhile Excites' first stakes winner Flag Officer is striving to take his earnings beyond $250,000 when he lines up at Belmont in WA this weekend.
The Paul Jordan trained gelding won his first start as a 2YO over 1100m by almost 3-lens but trained on to win a stakes race at 1600m and was fourth beaten 2-lens in the W.A.T.C Derby over 2400m. Fri, 10 May 2013 08:30:00 +1000 http://www.vinery.com.au/scream-machine-to-scone-cup/ ALL TOO HARD RETIRES TO VINERY http://www.vinery.com.au/all-too-hard-retires-to-vinery/ <h2 style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 0px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">
</h2>Vinery Stud have today announced the retirement of All Too Hard.
 
After consultation with the colt’s shareholders and his trainers Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes, it was decided that All Too Hard had nothing left to prove, he had beaten the best, over the ideal distances and against all ages.
 All Too Hard retires after winning three consecutive Weight For Age, Group 1 races for his new owners; the CF Orr stakes (1400m), the Futurity Stakes (1400m) and after a well publicized setback, he stood tall to come to Sydney to beat the best in the All Aged Stakes (1400m). 
All this was a perfect follow on from his brilliant Spring in Melbourne where he ran down Pierro to win the Caulfield Guineas Gr1, before meeting the best Weight For Age horses in the country and being caught on the line by Ocean Park in the W.S. Cox Plate.
For the first time in history he is the only horse to ever win the Caulfield Guineas, C.F Orr (WFA), Futurity (WFA) and All Aged (WFA) in one season.
 “We are obviously very disappointed to see All Too Hard retire, but we understand the owners’ decision to do so”, said his trainer John Hawkes.
“You don’t see too many colts as good as this horse come along, he is a super horse, he has shown just what he is capable of doing and would have potentially gone on to win many more top class races and in doing so establishing himself as one of the greats. We are proud to have been part of the colt’s career on the track; he will get the best of opportunity at stud, he will make a great stallion and we look forward to training his stock in the future”. 
 His retirement comes fresh on the heels of the release of the latest World Thoroughbred rankings this week where All Too Hard has been awarded the highest rated 3yo in the country and second highest Australian Racehorse, second only to no other than his big sister Black Caviar. He was also rated equal highest 3yo colt in the world (World Thoroughbred Rankings Jan '13). 
“It was a difficult decision for us to retire a colt with so much more to offer as a racehorse”, said Vinery Stud’s General Manager, Peter Orton. 
“All Too Hard has done all we could have asked for and more. He is the most exciting stallion prospect I have seen for many years. He is the most spectacular physical who will be sure to dominate and offer a great pedigree mix to a vast range of broodmares. He possesses an outstanding pedigree being out ofHelsinge and a half brother to World Champion Sprinter Black Caviar but offers the blood of Champion sires such as Danehill, Snippets, Last Tycoon, Flying Spur and Vain.
"All Too Hard retires as a lightly raced stallion who since being announced as standing this season, we have been inundated with bookings which will see his 2013 book being finalize shortly”. 
Mon, 06 May 2013 08:30:00 +1000 http://www.vinery.com.au/all-too-hard-retires-to-vinery/ READYTOGORIGHTNOW IN TRIPLE CROWN http://www.vinery.com.au/readytogorightnow-in-triple-crown/ MORE Than Ready sired his 9th individual Stakes since January and 114th in total when Australian bred 3yo Readytogorightnow won the Gr 3 Tekkie Town Winter Guineas over 1600m at Kenilworth overnight.
Readytogorightnow has always looked capable of maturing into a feature race contender and he looked the part in no uncertain terms as he swooped late to land the first leg of the Cape Winter Series Triple Crown. Hot favourite King Of Pain (SAF) had no answer to the finishing burst of Justin Snaith’s Readytogorightnow and had to settle for second with Ze Kaiser (SAF) and Lion's Roar (SAF) in the minor placings, reports SA Horseracing.com.
Previously Stakes-placed when third in the Group III Cape Classic at Kenilworth, Readytogorightnow has now won 3 of his 10 starts and over R230,000.
An $85,000 purchase for James Bester Bloodstock from the Yarraman Park draft at the 2011 <a href="http://www.racenet.com.au/races/magic-millions">Magic Millions</a> National Yearling Sale, Readytogorightnow runs for Messrs H Adams, B Kantor &amp; M J Jooste &amp; Mrs I Jooste. He is the second winner from Storm Fronts, a half-sister by Hurricane Sky to stakes-winner Miss Minden, the dam of Group I winner Miss Danehill and Group II winner Pentastic. Readytogorightnow becomes the 114th stakes-winner for Vinery Stud's champion sire More Than Ready who stands this spring at a fee of $99,000. The winner's stablemate Lion's Roar was soon out in front while King Of Pain, who initially raced a bit wide further back in the field eventually came around runners to race in second place. Readytogorightnow was next best, ahead of Ze Kaiser, Gifted For Glory and Maltese Falcon who, in turn, raced ahead of Paterfamilias, Awesome Power and Summer Sanctuary. Lion's Roar stuck to his task commendably in the straight, trying to stick with King Of Pain as that one slipped into the lead down the inside. Ze Kaiser was very much in contention and Summer Sanctuary made up plenty of ground from behind, but nothing was travelling quite as well as Readytogorightnow. King Of Pain tried desperately to hang on to the lead but Readytogorightnow was all over him in the closing stages and went on by to win going away by 1.50 lengths. Readytogorightnow had previously only won at maiden and Novice Plate level, but he has been bumping strong company for most of his career and his previous efforts included a decent third to the smart Chave De Oura in the Cape Classic. Trainer Justin Snaith has always rated the son of More Than Ready and he has clearly come on nicely since the summer.
 Mon, 06 May 2013 07:35:16 +1000 http://www.vinery.com.au/readytogorightnow-in-triple-crown/ VERRAZANO VERY SHORT http://www.vinery.com.au/verrazano-very-short/ VINERY already have a Kentucky Derby winner on the roster in Big Brown, but look set to have a Kentucky Derby sire with More Than Ready set to add the Classic to his trophy cabinet.
More Than Ready son Verrazano is tipped to become the first horse since Vinery resident Big Brown to go into, and come out of a Kentucky Derby intact.
Unbeaten in all four starts so far, Verrazano opened his account with a 7 3/4-lens win at Gulfstream on New Year's Day before returning a month later to post a 16 1/4-lens victory.
The Todd Pletcher trained colt subsequently breezed through his first stakes test, taking out the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby by 3-lens.
Verrazano managed to tighten his hold on Kentucky Derby favouritism with a last start win in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.
And while the margin was only slight by Verrazano standards, Hall of Fame trainer Pletcher believes the experience will stand him in good stead at Churchill Downs.
"I think he's still learning, he's had a tendency to kind of idle a little bit and wait on company down the lane, I thought he did that a little bit,'' he said.
"It's the first time he really had horses real close to him at the finish of a race. Hopefully, every step we make is a learning experience for him and he learns to polish these races off a little better.''
Verrazano is a colt and arguably the most talked about future stallion prospect in the US at present.
He already has a place booked at Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Kentucky and is highly likely to shuttle to their Australian franchise boosting the number of profile of More Than Ready sons at stud.
Widden's Golden Slipper winner Sebring has made a fruitful start to his stud career with eight stakes horses from his first crop.
Vinery meanwhile have high hopes for More Than Ready son Pluck who covered a full of mares in his first season in 2012.
Pluck, like this weekend's Kentucky Derby hopeful Verrazano, was trained by Todd Pletcher and one half of the stallion/trainer's remarkable Breeders' Cup Juvenile double in 2010.
Pletcher also trained More Than Ready throughout his illustrious career making him better qualified than anyone to compare the father and son.
"More Than Ready will always be one of my favourite horses; he was one of, if not the first, really good ones I trained,'' Pletcher said.
"He was such a talented horse with such a great disposition and it is very satisfying to see him go on and do well as a sire not only here (in the United States), but in Australia where is a real phenomenon.
"Pluck is almost a clone of More Than Ready himself, he is almost black in colour and has a very similar head.
``If you looked at the pictures of the two horses as two-year-olds, the similarities are amazing,'' Pletcher said.
SKY Racing2 will screen the Kentucky Derby live at 8.24 a.m AEST on Sunday morning. Fri, 03 May 2013 11:42:02 +1000 http://www.vinery.com.au/verrazano-very-short/ MOSSMAN IN THE MONEY - AGAIN http://www.vinery.com.au/mossman-in-the-money-again/ MOSSMAN gelding Second Effort turned back the clock at the famous Warrnambool carnival this week when posting his third Stakes win and second successive Wangoom Handicap (1200m).
Trained by Clinton McDonald, the 6YO came right away from his rivals to score an emphatic 1.8-lens in this year's version beating off a fast finishing That's the One.
Second Effort's midweek triumph is the tenth career win for the horse whose earnings eclipsed the $550,000 mark.
Second Effort is one of 22 stakeswinners sired by Mossman alongside Group 1 performers Ofcourseican, Love Conquers All, Triple Honour, Segments and the Golden Slipper runner-up Pure Energy.
His win comes hot on the heels of Mossman's outstanding son Buffering's second straight win in the Group 2 Victory Stakes at Doomben lodged last Saturday.
Buffering has won over $2.2 million and placed in 7 Group 1 races until now, twice behind the wonder mare Black Caviar and was also a nose second to Hay List in the 2012 Newmarket Handicap. Thu, 02 May 2013 10:59:34 +1000 http://www.vinery.com.au/mossman-in-the-money-again/