Latest News

By Ray Hickson

History is stacked against Matt Laurie’s unbeaten colt Vinrock in Saturday’s Group 1 $1m Inglis Sires’ (1400m) at Randwick but the trainer says a rare double is within the youngster’s reach.

Trainer Matt Laurie (Pic: Bradley Photos)

While 19 two-year-olds have completed VRC-ATC Sires’ double it’s been 44 years since the last VRC Sires’ winner has won the Sydney version, that was Full On Aces in 1981.

And on a second front, the last six winners of the ATC Sires’ have come through the Golden Slipper but Laurie feels he has the right horse to take on the history books.

“He’s got the right profile to be coming up here and tackling this, I think he’s going to be super competitive,’’ Laurie said.

“Even beyond that I think the mile looks spot on but we’re here to win so hopefully we do. I’m happy with the way he’s travelled up and settled in.”

Vinrock, $6 with TAB on Wednesday, hasn’t raced since his easy all the way win at Flemington almost a month ago but Laurie says he’s adapted to Sydney nicely.

And taken benefit from a fast closing second in a 1050m barrier trial at Randwick last Friday.

“It was a beneficial trial, he got a little bit lost getting around the turn but when he balanced up in the straight I really liked the way he lengthened out,” Laurie said.

“He galloped (Tuesday) morning, I was really happy with him."

The form out of the VRC Sires’ hasn’t been seriously tested though Vinrock did hold a comfortable two length margin at the finish of the 1400m.

Laurie said he’ll leave it to jockey Mark Zahra to decide whether the colt leads or looks to take a trail from the inside barrier, confident that he saw more than enough in the trial to suggest he can play the tactical game if need be.

“The trial the other day was nice because he settled in amongst them midfield, went through, and found the line well late,’’ he said.

“Mark’s a gun rider and he’ll work it out, he doesn’t have to lead and he can settle where it suits.

“He’s going to be in the firing line, so he’s going to get a really good run.”

Laurie is shooting for a Group 1 double in the space of four days after his gun filly Treasurethe Moment proved too strong in the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Tuesday.

It was something of a relief, given the three-year-old was expected to win, for Laurie to see her handle the softer track and he revealed after the race that she didn’t travel too well to Sydney and took some time to get comfortable.

He said he now has every reason to be confident she can claim the VRC-ATC Oaks double at Randwick on April 12.

Vinrock runs second in a Randwick trial on March 28

“She is proven at that distance and she’s going to lap it up,’’ he said.

“She’s just got better and better. We have been here for nearly a fortnight and she lost a little bit of weight on the way up and wasn’t completely settled but as we got deeper, she got better and better and I was pleased with her.

“Ten days into the Oaks will be perfect.”

All the fields, form and replays for Day 1 of The Star Championships at Randwick