Kate Brideoake joked her marriage to trainer Matt Laurie is safe for the time being despite Vinrock drawing out in the Caulfield Guineas.
The Laurie stable has three runners in Saturday’s Group 1 for three-year-olds over 1600m and Brideoake made the trip from Mornington to represent the stable at Tuesday’s draw.
Her brief when she left for Caulfield was to draw anywhere from two to eight for the three horses.
After drawing four for Prestige Ole and seven for Vega For Luck, Brideoake knew her luck had potentially run out when going on stage for Vinrock.
Her premonition was correct with Vinrock getting gate 14.
“Prestige Ole and Vega For Luck were good, but Vinrock’s a little wide, but it’s better than barrier one,” Brideoake said.
A winner over 1400m at Flemington on September 13, Vinrock finished fifth in the Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 26.
Brideoake said that race had been a nightmare from the time the gates opened with stewards reporting Vinrock had pulled up lame.
“He got a bit of a bump on the corner, but he trotted out well on the Saturday morning and it’s all systems go,” Brideoake said.
“This has been his target. Grand Final Eve was a nightmare and from the time the barriers opened it was a non-event.
“He’s not a sit and sprint horse, he likes a building gallop, and that is what we will be hoping for on Saturday.”
While beaten at 1600m last start, Brideoake said Vinrock would have no troubles at his second try at the trip if he can roll forward.
“His pedigree is distance although the Vinne’s (I Am Invincible) don’t get out,” Brideoake said.
“But when your mum (Girl Gone Rockin’) wins the Matriarch, it means you have some stamina, so we’ll be hoping he can get over a bit of ground.
“Vega For Luck is going brilliantly. I think Jamie (Mott) rode him a bit cheekily in the Prelude while Prestige Ole still has to show it, but he’s in there.”
Vinrock sits on the third line of betting at $7 behind Chris Waller’s pair of Wodeton ($4) and Autumn Boy ($4.40) following the draw.
Vega For Luck is a $34 chance while Prestige Ole is a $101 outsider.
Autumn Boy, a son of 2018 Guineas winner The Autumn Son, drew barrier 1 while Wodeton has gate 10.
Both colts had a workout at Caulfield on Tuesday morning having last started in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on September 27.
