Moments after he’d ridden a young, unnamed colt which was still being educated, trainer Matt Laurie declared to those closest to him that he’d win the Gr1 Inglis Sires as a 2YO.
That extraordinary prediction rang true at Randwick on Saturday when that same colt – now named Vinrock (I Am Invincible) – proved too strong in the juvenile feature on Day 1 of The Championships.
Saturday’s win kept Vinrock’s unbeaten start to his career intact from three outings.
Vinrock (Mark Zahra) wins the juvenile feature at Randwick (Pic – Martin King/Sportpix)
Vinrock not only becomes the 105th individual Gr1-winning Inglis graduate since 2018 but also the first Gr1-winning 2YO I Am Invincible colt.
Today’s result also continues the Champion stallion’s incredible record with his Inglis sales graduates, with each of I Am Invincible’s Australian Gr1-winning males being graduates of Inglis auctions – Home Affairs, Brazen Beau, Hellbent, Voodoo Lad, Lombardo and now Vinrock.
Laurie and Wilannah Park Bloodstock bought Vinrock for A$300,000 at the Premier Yearling Sale, where he was offered by his breeder Rosemont Stud.
He debuted with an easy Maiden win at Pakenham before winning at Gr2 level at his second start and today claimed his first Gr1, making himself one of the most valuable racehorses in training.
“We found him at the Inglis Premier Sale and I just thought he was a lovely looking horse. What a great story, it’s very special,’’ Laurie said.
“To pick out a colt at the sale and then be here winning a Group 1 three starts later, it’s mind blowing. He’s a standout horse.
When asked when he first targeted the Inglis Sires with Vinrock, Laurie declared: “Straight after I rode him for the first time after he’d been broken in, I thought he was a Sires horse in Sydney. I knew he was good and he is.’’
On the proviso Vinrock pulls up well, Laurie will back him up in the Gr1 Champagne Stakes at Randwick in a fortnight.
Rosemont’s Ryan McEvoy added: “We’re super excited for Matt and the team, who found the horse and loved him at Oaklands and stuck their neck out. It’s a great thrill.
“We’re supporters of Vinnie, we’re partners in Vinnie, to breed his first Group 1-winning 2YO colt here in Australia is a great thrill. We’ve got the mare at home which is exciting and she throws a beautiful type.
“Vinrock is a proud Victorian-bred colt, it’s just a great story for everyone.’’
Earlier on the Randwick card Know Thyself (The Autumn Sun) was the equal least-experienced runner in the A$1m Country Championships Final but pulled out plenty of fight to score a thrilling win in the feature.
At just his eighth career start, the Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich-trained 4YO made it career win No.5 with a tenacious victory.
Andrew Williams purchased Know Thyself for A$300,000 at the Easter Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Arrowfield.
He races in the colours of his owners the Ladbrokes Racing Club.
“This is a really special horse for our stable,’’ Messara said.
“Leah rides him every day and loves him like a little puppy dog. It’s very exciting for us and for Ladbrokes as well, the association has been really successful and hopefully it can continue on.’’
Ladbrokes Racing Club’s Glenn Munsie added: “Absolutely magnificent. He’s a horse we’ve had a huge opinion of since day one, to think he debuted in a Maiden at Newcastle and here we are today.
“Congratulations to Paul, Leah, jockey Aaron Bullock who’s been his number one supporter from day one. The team at Arrowfield has done a wonderful job also.’’
And exciting colt North England (Farnan) scored a second Gr3 win from just five career starts when winning the Kindergarten Stakes at Randwick.
The 2YO won the A$1m Golden Gift at just his second start in November and has been close-up behind the best juveniles in the land this preparation, not beaten far in the Gr2 Todman and G1r Golden Slipper.
But it was his day on Saturday, with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained North England defeating some talented types on his way to an impressive victory.
The Zhongli Thoroughbreds-bred North England is a A$280,000 Classic Yearling Sale buy for Newgate Farm, Go Bloodstock, China Horse Club and Trilogy Racing, from the Valiant Stud draft.
“We’ve got a lovely colt on our hands, it’s fantastic,’’ Newgate’s Henry Field said of North England.
“He’s a very sharp horse, that was a crack form race, there were three horses in the race that had all been declared as ‘good things’ so it’s never an easy race to win the Kindergarten. He showed his tenacity today, he was great.’’
Field has been at Riverside all week, both as a vendor and prospective buyer, and is hopeful of finding his next Russian Revolution, Wild Ruler or In The Congo, all Gr1-winning colts he has sourced at Easter.
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At Caulfield on Saturday, the untapped 2YO Scenic Point (Written Tycoon) made it two wins from as many starts with a dominant victory in the Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes.
The filly debuted with an effortless victory 16 days ago and added a valuable black type victory to her already impressive page with today’s Stakes success.
Trained by Ben, Will and JD Hayes, Scenic Point is a A$450,000 KPW Bloodstock purchase from the Easter Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Ridgmont.
And Statuario (D’Argento) announced himself a stayer of great quality with a dominant win in today’s Listed Galilee Series Final at Caulfield.
The 3YO was having his first run over the 2400m but showed he was destined for bigger successes, scoring a comfortable three-length win.
Statuario is an A$18,000 Gold Yearling Sale buy for David and Emma-Lee Browne’s Sparta Racing along with Bluegrass Bloodstock and Toward Reward Thoroughbreds, from the draft of his breeder Bowness Stud.
He has now won more than A$250,000 in prizemoney.
