‘He’s a ripping colt’ – Yulong snaps up Laurie’s Group 1 winner Vinrock

Unbeaten two-year-old colt Vinrock – the first Australian Group 1-winning juvenile by the nation’s reigning premier sire I Am Invincible – is the latest stallion prospect to join the ownership ranks of Yulong.

General manager Jun Zhang confirmed on Monday that the Matt Laurie-trained colt, who won the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes at Randwick on April 5, had been purchased by Yulong founder Zhang Yuesheng.

Vinrock, who won his two Victorian starts, including the Group 2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes with authority, was being touted by Laurie as a Champagne Stakes contender at Randwick this Saturday in the aftermath of the colt’s breakthrough Group 1 victory earlier this month.

However, as stud interest in Vinrock intensified, Laurie took the conservative and understandable option to spell the Rosemont Stud-bred two-year-old rather than give him a fourth start in his maiden racing campaign. 

“Yulong have been great to me, and we have already enjoyed huge success on the racecourse together with Treasurethe Moment,” Laurie said.

“I’m delighted with their purchase of Vinrock, he’s a ripping colt and we’re looking forward to an exciting spring.”

The Straight reported last week that Yulong was in the box seat to secure Vinrock, a stablemate of Saturday’s Zhang-owned and bred Australian Oaks winner Treasurethe Moment who made it eight wins in succession at the weekend, at a valuation in the vicinity of $20 million.

‘The horse sells himself’ – Laurie in the driver’s seat as offers flow for unbeaten Vinrock

As offers flow for arguably Australia’s most valuable available stallion prospect, Vinrock’s trainer Matt Laurie is unfazed with managing what could prove a life-changing windfall for the colt’s connections.

The StraightTim Rowe

He joins recent Yulong acquisitions, The Galaxy-winning three-year-old colt Private Harry and Group 2 winner Angel Capital, another three-year-old son of Darley shuttler Harry Angel.

Yulong bought 50 per cent of the Kurrunda Bloodstock-controlled, Nathan Doyle-trained Private Harry who was sent to the paddock after his Galaxy success as the winner of five races from as many starts.

Angel Capital, who was bought outright from Upper Bloodstock for more than $4 million in February, was switched from Clinton McDonald’s Cranbourne stable to Chris Waller’s Sydney stable after the three-year-old was a race morning scratching from the Australian Guineas when favourite.

A $300,000 yearling purchase by Laurie from Rosemont Stud’s draft at last year’s Inglis Premier sale after initially being passed in, Vinrock importantly has a black-type pedigree on his dam side.

“I’m delighted with (Yulong’s) purchase of Vinrock, he’s a ripping colt and we’re looking forward to an exciting spring” – trainer Matt Laurie

The best-performed of three winners out of Group 2-winning Redoute’s Choice mare Girl Gone Rockin’, herself a half-sister to Group 3 winner Syreon, Vinrock’s second dam Sorrento was also a five-time stakes winner in Australia and New Zealand.

Zhang does Private Harry deal, Field to work with small breeders, Easter on internationals’ radar and NZ stallion stats

In this week’s Rowe On Monday, Tim Rowe delves into the Private Harry deal, checks in with Newgate Farm’s Henry Field, learns about the overseas contingent for the Easter sale, and explores some New Zealand numbers.

The StraightTim Rowe

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Sorrento’s best win was in the Queen of the Turf Stakes, then run at Group 2 level at Rosehill. That race, now held at Randwick on day two of The Championships, was upgraded to Group 1 status in 2005.