In one way, Matt Laurie has already done his job with Vinrock.
The Mornington trainer snapped up the colt for $300,000 at last year’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, turned him into the first son of I Am Invincible to win a juvenile Group 1 race in Australia after which Yulong bought controlling interest for many multiples of what Laurie paid.
But the unbeaten colt remains in Laurie’s care, likely with juicy ‘kickers’ to come if he can add to his Group 1 tally at three, and the trainer is excited about seeing him resume in this Saturday’s Group 3 McNeil Stakes at Caulfield.
“He’s class horse, he’s proven that already – he was unbeaten as a two-year-old – and he’s a hell of a type,” Laurie said.
“So, he’s going to be very well received when he gets there (stud), but if he can add another Group 1 to his CV as three-year-old, then he’s going to be very well-bought and I hope that’s the case.
“I’m looking forward to seeing get to the stallion barn one day, but he’s got a bit more work to do.”
Laurie is proud of what he has been able to achieve with Rosemont Stud-bred colt, who launched his career with a 1200m Pakenham maiden win before claiming the Group 2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington and Group 1 ATC Sires’ (1400m) at Randwick.
He will sport Yulong’s increasingly-familiar green and white colours for the first time in the $200,000 McNeil Stakes, which is the first step in a path aimed at the $1 million Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on September 27.
Vinrock won a 900m Mornington jumpout on August 6 before a third placing over 1000m at the same course two weeks later and he rounded out preparations for the first-up run with a look around the Caulfield course proper on Tuesday morning.
Fellow Yulong-raced colt Tycoon Star, his Vain Stakes conqueror Jimmy Recard and The Showdown winner Mcgaw are among Vinrock’s McNeil rivals and Laurie expects the 1200-metre event will be a good pointer for the campaign to come.
“There’s still some good improvement in him, visually he’s still a touch wintry in the coat, but we’re planning to get the Golden Rose third-up and by the time that comes around he should look ‘Mickey Mouse’,” Laurie said.
“We’d expect him to improve with the outing and there’s probably more short-course horses in this (McNeil Stakes).
“We think he’ll be competitive, but he’s obviously only going to get better as we get out over a little bit further.”
Vinrock’s performances early in the campaign will help Laurie and Yulong formulate a plan beyond the Golden Rose.
His trainer has always considered him the perfect type for the Caulfield Guineas, but if he comes back particularly sharp there is also the prospect of trying to become I Am Invincible’s fourth winner of the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
“I probably feel the Guineas is maybe more to his liking, but we just have to see how sharp he comes back,” Laurie said.
“He always gave me the feeling that he was a horse for a touch further, but he’s got that ‘Vinnie’ factor where you’re not quite sure.”
Vinrock is a $15 chance in betting on the Coolmore Stud Stakes and shares the $8 third line of betting with Autumn Boy on the Golden Rose, favourite for which is Nepotism ($5).
