VINERY STUD STAKES
2000m, $500,000 Group One set-weights race for three-year-old fillies run at Rosehill.
Winner exempt from ballot for Group One $1 million Australian Oaks at Randwick on April 8.
HISTORY
* First run in 1979 over 1900m at Canterbury when won by Impede
* Race is officially registered as the Storm Queen Stakes but is referred to by most as the Vinery Stud Stakes
* Before 1992 was Group Two and known as Storm Queen Stakes in honour of the 1966 Golden Slipper winner
* Storm Queen was a champion for Bart Cummings – winning the 1966 Golden Slipper, 1966 Champagne Stakes, 1966 Caulfield Guineas, 1966 George Adams Handicap and the 1967 Lightning Stakes
* The race has been won by star fillies such as: Sheraco (1982), Research (1989), Slight Chance (1993), Champagne (1998), Savannah Success (1999), Special Harmony (2004), Serenade Rose (2006), Miss Finland (2007), Mosheen (2012) and Lucia Valentina (2014)
* Mick Dittman is the most successful jockey with three winners – Centaurea (1985), Research (1989) and A Little Kiss (1990)
* Bart Cummings and Lee Freedman most successful trainers with three wins each
* The 2018 edition was won by the Mick Price-trained Hiyaam ridden by Michael Dee
TALKING POINTS
* A field of 13 has been declared
* The race is one of the key lead-up races to the Group One Australian Oaks
* Only Serenade Rose (2006), Danendri (1997), Alcove (1994), Research (1989) and Sheraco (1982) have completed the Vinery Stud Stakes/Australian Oaks double
* Research recorded the first race win of her autumn campaign in 1989 when she took out the Vinery Stud Stakes. She then won the Group One Australian Derby (2400m) and Australian Oaks – all within the space of 11 days and an achievement that has never been repeated
* Favourites have won the race 13 times in the past 33 years
* Barrier 10 is the most successful barrier, with seven wins
* Barriers four, five and 14 are the unluckiest with only one win each
WHAT THE KEY PLAYERS ARE SAYING
* “The drop back in class to a set weights and penalties race here is in her favour but the track needs to improve rapidly for her to be comfortable” – James Cummings on filly Pohutukawa
* “Verry Elleegant beat her fair and square the other day and Verry Elleegant is probably going to win again. But it doesn’t matter, we’re there to compete and you never know” – Seabrook’s trainer Mick Price
