Vinery Stallions in May

by Bernard Kenny

Frosted Gold, Anton Marcus, takes out the SA Nursery

The winners keep coming for All Too Hard with his South African juvenile Frosted Gold on track to be Champion 2YO following victory in the Gr2 SA Nursery on Champions Day at Turffontein.

Ridden by Anton Marcus for ‘international’ trainer Mike de Kock, Frosted Gold came from well off the pace to score by over a length from arch-rival Twilight Moon. Frosted Gold will certainly be the one to beat in the Gr1 Sun Gold Medallion at Scottsville on 25 May.

“He’s better being ridden quieter,” trainer Mike de Kock said of Frosted Gold’s victory. “He’s still a green and likes to run at them. I’m not sure how many more runs we will give him as a 2yo. He’s won three from four and could possibly go to the Sun Gold Medallion later this month.”
“He’s got good gate speed and kicked when I asked,” added winning jockey Anton Marcus. “He was looking for company late and based on that he has improvement to come.”

Frosted Gold won on debut at Vaal in February and then dead-heated with Twilight Moon in the listed Storm Bird Stakes at Turffontein. Twilight Moon was successful in both their second start in the Gr3 Protea Stakes before Frosted Gold won the SA Nursery of 1160m.

A $180,000 buy by Mike de Kock for Durban-based owner Dave MacLean at the 2018 Inglis Melbourne Yearling Sale. “Dave gave us the go-ahead to buy one horse and Jehan Malherbe and I found this one, we are very pleased. He’s got a Group 2 now and he has a future.”

A half-brother to Macau stakes winner Sunshine Mighty, Frosted Gold is from the winning stakes-placed French mare Mary d’Or, by Verglas, and is a sister to the Prix Jean Prat winner and sire Stormy River and half-brother to French Group 1 winner Silverware.

With the All Too Hard crop averaging $250,000 at the Australian Easter Yearling Sale, it drew Vinery’s General Manager Peter Orton into stating “trainers love All Too Hard, they win every day.” His five top lots sold between $280,000 and $380,000 with the Shoboard filly going to Team Hawkes.

To mid-April this season All Too Hard is listed in the Top 10 Sires by Winners and in the Top 5 Sires by 3YO Winners. Now the sire of 22 Stakes performers and earnings of over $11.5m from just three crops of racing age he was second only to Snitzel in 2017-18 with 62 3yo winners.

As the best of his sire Casino Prince, All Too Hard was Champion 3YO Colt of 2012-13 in winning four Group 1 events including the WFA All-Aged Stakes and CF Orr Stakes against older horses. Also, that season he was rated second to his half-sister Black Caviar as Australian Horse of The Year.

In Vinery Stud staging their Vinery Stallions in May parade with the Scone Cup Carnival, Peter Orton spoke of a ‘breakthrough season for exciting young sires Press Statement and Headwater.’

“Their first yearlings were very popular at the sales and they will step out in the spring for Australia’s leading stables,” Peter stated. “A Press Statement filly made $340,000 on the Gold Coast and a colt $270,000 at Sydney Classic.”

In purchasing the $270,000 Classic Sale colt for Star Thoroughbreds Randwick Bloodstock agent Brett Howard stated “I think Press Statement is a massive chance of making the grade as a stallion. Our colt is an absolute cracker and he will get every chance with Chris Waller.”

“Press Statement was a genuine Group 1 horse and the feedback from the breakers has been very positive. They’re tough and they’re athletes,” said Peter Orton. His yearlings averaged $170,000 in Book 1 of the Magic Millions Yearling Sale, with six selling from $165,000 to $340,000 at major sales.

Sired by Champion First Season Hinchinbrook, Press Statement was the only colt of his generation to win at Group 1 level as a 2yo and 3yo in taking out the JJ Atkins Stakes and Caulfield Guineas for Champion Group 1 trainer Chris Waller.

“He’s a lovely looking individual,” said Caulfield trainer Price on buying the Headwater-Manju colt for $140, 000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. “Strong, forward and a real speed-type of colt. He’s a ripper and I can’t wait to get him back to Melbourne.”

Headwater averaged $97,500 in Book 1 of the Magic Millions Yearling Sale and this year 10 lots have sold between $180,000 and $100,000 at major yearling sales nationally with five at $100,000.

With a champion’s pedigree loaded with black-type sprinters Headwater is by Champion sire Exceed And Excel from the Gr1 Oakleigh Plate winner River Dove. A winner of the Gr2 Silver Slipper Stakes as a juvenile he defeated the older horses as a 3yo in the listed Kensington Stakes.

Star Turn his foals sold at the Australian Weanling Sale with his Our Miss Donovan filly making $30,000. Another 18 are catalogued for the Magic Millions Weanling Sale in May, with Peter Orton stating “breeders are coming back after seeing his foals. He’s stamping them, alright. They’re beasts.”

A son of duel Group 1 sprinter Star Witness, Star Turn is a great outcross with just one strain of Danehill back four generations. A Randwick juvenile winner he took out the Gr3 San Domenico Stakes at three-years going on to defeat older horses in the Gr2 wfa Schillaci Stakes.

Casino Prince continues to have a 67% winners strike rate and is on track for a fourth consecutive season of 100 winners, with Baccarat Baby heading for the Queensland Oaks on 25 May. Pluck is the only son of More Than Ready standing in the Hunter Valley

Stay up to date with the latest racing news
Follow our social accounts to get exclusive content and all the latest racing news!