Scott Murray and Brian Ireland had the cheapest contender in the Golden Slipper a decade ago, and now a daughter of Vecchia Roma is ready to take the first step towards the $3.5 million race.
Vainity will make her debut at Randwick on Tuesday for the Gold Coast owner/breeders, and trainer Mark Newnham.
A $75,000 Magic Millions yearliong, Vecchia Roma was eighth in the 2007 Slipper and eventually retired with three wins from 20 starts.
She has subsequently fashioned an impressive record as a broodmare with the four of her progeny to race so far all recording wins.
Vainity will be her next starter when she runs in the Hyland Boxing Day Sale Handicap (1000m).
She is the first horse Newnham has handled for Murray and Ireland and the outlook is encouraging after two barrier trials.
“Everything’s she’s done has been pretty positive from the time she stepped into the stable,” Newnham said.
Although it is early days, Newnham says she appears comparable to stablemate Canyonero who was third to Irish Bet and Ragged Rascal on debut in the Inglis Nursery (1000m) at Randwick on December 16.
“She shows the same natural ability, but you never know until you see how they handle the pressure of a race,” Newnham said.
Blake Shinn, who has the ride on Boxing Day, and Kerrin McEvoy were aboard in her trials and both gave positive feedback,
“She’s won a trial over 740, she given every indication a 1000 won’t be a problem,” Newnham said.
“Kerrin seemed to think she wasn’t just a half mile speedster.”
“You’d hope she might be good enough for the autumn.”
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained colt Commissioner ($7) is the only runner in the seven-horse field with previous experience after a third on debut in the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes at Doomben on December 16.
