Vinery Stud Stakes – 2021

Track: Good   Weather: Fine

There are 10 runners for the $500,000 Vinery Stud Stakes. Two of them had their last start in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes at Rosehill over 1500m, two in the Group 2 Kewney Stakes at Flemington over 1600m, two in the Group 3 Kembla Grange Classic over 1600m, and one each in the G1 Randwick Guineas, the G3 Alexandra Stakes, a 1600m race in New Zealand and a Ballarat maiden. Two of the runners are sired by Power.

The early favourite is Harmony Rose who has three wins and two places from her five starts and was 3rd in the Randwick Guineas at her latest outing. Second favourite is Personal who won the Group 1 Kennedy Oaks in November and has placed at both starts this campaign. Third favourite is Hungry Heart who chased hard to win the Phar Lap Stakes last start.

Impecunious has two wins and two places from five starts and can 3rd in the Phar Lap Stakes. Force Of Will will be having her first start in Australia after winning four of her five starts in New Zealand. Miravalle won the Kembla Grange Classic second-up while Elizabeel finished 2nd in the same race and hasn’t run worse than 5th in all 11 races. The other three runners are currently 16 to 1 or longer.

1. Personal

She won the Kennedy Oaks over 2500m in November after a close 2nd in the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes over 2000m, so we know she will run the distance. She resumed after 14 weeks for 4.75 lengths 2nd in the Group 3 The Vanity over 1400m on 13 February, then finished 0.1,0.1 length 3rd in a tight 3-way finish in the Group 2 Kewney Stakes over 1600m. She should be in the first few home.

2. Harmony Rose

This filly has three wins and two places from her five starts. At her first start in a black-type race she finished 1.3, 0.3 lengths 3rd in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas behind Lion’s Roar and Mo’unga on 6 March where she was the only filly in the race. Looks a winning chance here.

3. Hungry Heart

At her third start of this preparation she won the Phar Lap Stakes where she had the best overall race sectionals. This is first try over the 2000m but her breeding suggests that won’t be a problem and she should feature in the finish.

4. Starelle

She was held up from the 500-350m then charged to the front at the 100m and fought hard in a 3-way finish for a narrow win in the Kewney Stakes. She raced twice over this distance in the Spring where she finished 8th in the Ethereal Stakes, then 6th in the Wakeful Stakes, but is more seasoned now. Could surprise.

5. Elizabeel

This filly has had a nice preparation with 4th in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes, 3rd in the Group 1 Surround Stakes and 2nd in the Group 3 Kembla Grange Classic. She steps up to 2000m for the first time but looks as if she is suited to the distance.

6. Miravalle

During the Spring this filly was 4th in the G2 Wakeful Stakes over 2000m then 4th in the Group 1 Kennedy Oaks over 2500m. She resumed for 12th in the Surround Stakes where she only got clear very late, then was a solid winner of the Kembla Grange Classic. She is third-up here and I think she can figure in the finish.

7. Force Of Will

Having her Australian debut here, this Power filly has won four of her five starts in New Zealand, including a 1.3 length win in the Group 3 Desert Gold over 1600m at Trentham. Has to be counted as one of the chances.

8. Impecunious

At her last two starts this filly has finished 0.5 lengths 4th in the Group 2 Angus Armanasco Stakes over 1400m then 0.1, 1.5 lengths 3rd in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes over 1500m. She didn’t get clear running in either of those races so could feature in the finish.

9. Love Sensation

This filly has had nine starts and her only win was in a Geelong maiden plate in September. She placed in the Group 3 Alexandra Stakes at her last start and could be on the improve.

10. Princess Rhaenys

She has only raced twice for 3.7 lengths 4th over 1200m at Pakenham Park on debut, then a Ballarat maiden 1.75 length win over 1600m on 28 February. She seems to be aiming very high but trainer Peter Moody obviously thought she was worth bringing to Sydney for this. I won’t be backing her though.

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Jo’s Tips
2 Harmony Rose
3 Hungry Heart
1 Personal
6 Miravalle

Group 1 Tancred Stakes 2021 (Rosehill 2400m)

Group 2 Tulloch Stakes 2021 (Rosehill 2000m)

Group 2 Emancipation Stakes 2021 (Rosehill 1500m)

Group 3 Easter Cup 2021 (Caulfield 2000m)