Vinery Stud has an exceptional record as a proven source of Gr.1 winners and in the last three years have sold the winners of three of the biggest 2yo races in the country: Exhilarates (2yo Magic Millions Classic), Farnan (Gr.1 Golden Slipper Stakes), and Artorius (Gr.1 Blue Diamond Stakes). Their record from the Inglis Easter Yearling sale is enviable, having sold Gr.1 VRC Oaks winner Aristia (Lonhro) in recent years, as well as Group 1 winners, turned stallions Russian Revolution, Shamus Award, and Exceed and Excel.
Vinery’s Adam White spoke to Bluebloods about their 2021 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft of nineteen yearlings.
Do you think there is a physical type of horse that Easter buyers are looking for?
I don’t believe there is one type that buyers are seeking. Obviously the colts and fillies that look early and have the big page are going to be in high demand and well sought after. But certainly there are all types of horses offered at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, including the later developing horses, which their pedigree would indicate too.
What decisions go into the selection of the Vinery Easter draft each year?
Mostly we select good types of horses with nice pedigrees to go to Easter. We have a couple of yearlings by So You Think in this draft and they are horses that are generally more suited to later sales so that tendency does influence us. But most of the draft are good looking horses by top line stallions.
Do you have an unexpected Easter sale moment that you are proud of?
Probably more from a buying perspective than a selling one. I’m really pleased we picked up Exceedance (Exceed and Excel-Bonnie Mac, by Thorn Park) for $180,000. (The Gr.1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner stood his first season at Vinery Stud in 2020).
The Vinery 2021 Easter draft has an excellent spread of stallions; More Than Ready, Not a Single Doubt, Deep Field, Exceed and Excel, I Am Invincible, Pierro, Siyouni, Snitzel, So You Think, Star Turn, and Written Tycoon. With the high quality expected at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, it can be difficult to choose a few pedigree highlights to feature from the nineteen stunning pedigrees in this draft.
Some pedigrees sell themselves, and Lot 89 is an I Am Invincible colt out of Gr.1 winner Snitzerland (Snitzel). This colt is only her fourth foal, and she’s already left Gr.3 winner Hard Landing (All Too Hard) and Group placed winner Saas Fee (All Too Hard). Snitzerland is a full sister to Group winner and young sire Sooboog, and close relative Prairie Fire (Snitzel) is a recent 2yo Stakes winner. In a similar vein, Lot 247 is an I Am Invincible colt out of Gr.2 winner Champagne Harmony (Choisir), making this yearling a half-brother to Gr.1 placed winner Sezanne (More Than Ready), from the Eight Carat family. The other I Am Invincible yearling in this draft is Lot 421, a filly who is the first foal of Group placed winner Miles of Krishan (Snitzel), a half-sister to Gr.1 winner Il Quello Veloce (Captain Rio).
Those looking for residual value should inspect Lot 58, a full sister to Stakes winner and emerging sire Better Than Ready (More Than Ready-Sally’s World, by Agnes World). Another filly whose pedigree screams long term potential is Lot 427, a Snitzel filly who is the first foal of tough racemare and Gr.2 winner Miss Gunpowder (Pendragon) from the family of Gr.1 winner Absolut Glam (Snowland).
Russian Revolution (Snitzel) has a three-quarter brother in Lot 139, and this Snitzel colt is the first foal of Gr.3 winner Turbo Miss (Sebring), who is Russian Revolution’s half-sister.
A full brother to this season’s Stakes placed winner Ellerslie Lace (Siyouni-Indiana Wells, by Sadler’s Wells) is Lot 348, and this yearling colt has a truly international pedigree.
Vinery Stud sold Gr.2 winner Vanna Girl, and now they offer her half-brother, Lot 394, by their young sire Star Turn (Star Witness). Two other yearlings out of Stakes winning mares are Lot 5, an Exceed and Excel colt who is the second foal of Gr.3 winner Peace Force (Bernardini), herself a half-sister to multiple Gr.1 winner Eremein (Timber Country); and Lot 70, a Deep Field filly out of Listed winner Second Time Lucky (Any Suggestion).
Which yearling in this draft do you feel is a must-inspect for buyers?
I am extremely happy with all of them as a group of young horses. But for me personally I think the Exceed And Excel colt from Peace Force (Bernardini), Lot 5, is the one that stands out over the rest.
Vinery Stud continue to invest in the Australian racing and breeding industry, both through purchasing potential stallion prospects such as Exceedance, and through selling their best looking yearlings with strong pedigrees at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. The 2021 Vinery Inglis Easter draft reflects this dedication to quality. ❖
2021 Draft
