Vinevale gets new partners off to a flyer
The in-form Vinevale ensured New Zealand’s newest training partnership got away to a dream start when she struck again on her home track.
The mare is prepared at Ruakaka by Chris Gibbs and Michelle Bradley and as their first representative she did them proud with a dominant performance to win the ITM + GIB Open 1400m.
“That was a lovely win and since she’s come up here she has just improved,” Bradley said. “A change of environment has obviously helped her, she’s a lovely mare.”
Vinevale won three races for Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards before relocating and she has now matched that effort from her new quarters.
The Flying Spur five-year-old was twice successful on her new home track last month and on Saturday she was untested to complete a hat-trick. She sat in behind a slow pace and once clear in the straight Vinevale quickened to beat Spider, who did well off a wide run, and Rockabyebaby.
“Once I took a sit she was happy,” successful rider Cameron Lammas said. “We got the gap and she sprinted away.”
Out of the Zabeel mare Eden Valley, who is a sister to the Group 1 Australia Stakes (2000m) winner Hill Of Grace, Vinevale was bred by Trelawney Stud. They have remained in the ownership and continued a good run for the Cambridge nursery, whose colours were carried to victory at Te Rapa a week ago by the imported Galileo mare Igraine.