Kate Brideoake could breathe a sigh of relief after drawing decent gates for two of the Laurie stable’s three runners in Saturday’s Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m)—though she admits husband and co-trainer Matt Laurie might have had something to say about her third attempt.
The Mornington-based team will saddle up Prestige Ole, Vega For Luck and leading hope Vinrock in the feature for three-year-olds, with Brideoake representing the stable at Tuesday’s barrier draw at Caulfield.
Her instructions before leaving home were simple: draw between two and eight for all three runners. Things started perfectly with Prestige Ole landing barrier four and Vega For Luck drawing seven. But by the time she stepped up to select for Vinrock, Brideoake had a bad feeling—and she was right.
“Prestige Ole and Vega For Luck were good, but Vinrock’s a little wide, but it’s better than barrier one,” Brideoake said with a laugh. “So the marriage is safe for now.”
Vinrock, who won over 1400m at Flemington on September 13, endured a luckless run when finishing fifth in the Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley two weeks later, with stewards later reporting the colt pulled up lame.
“He got a bit of a bump on the corner, but he trotted out well on the Saturday morning and it’s all systems go,” Brideoake said. “This has been his target. Grand Final Eve was a nightmare and from the time the barriers opened it was a non-event. He’s not a sit and sprint horse, he likes a building gallop, and that is what we will be hoping for on Saturday.”
Despite the wide draw, Brideoake remains confident Vinrock will handle the mile at his second try, particularly if he can roll forward early.
“His pedigree is distance although the Vinne’s (I Am Invincible) don’t get out,” she said. “But when your mum (Girl Gone Rockin’) wins the Matriarch, it means you have some stamina, so we’ll be hoping he can get over a bit of ground.”
Of the stable’s other runners, Brideoake said: “Vega For Luck is going brilliantly. I think Jamie (Mott) rode him a bit cheekily in the Prelude while Prestige Ole still has to show it, but he’s in there.”
After the barrier draw, Vinrock sits on the third line of betting at $7 behind the Chris Waller-trained Wodeton ($4) and Autumn Boy ($4.40). Vega For Luck is rated a $34 chance, while Prestige Ole is the outsider at $101.
Autumn Boy, a son of 2018 Guineas winner The Autumn Sun, has drawn the inside barrier (1), while Wodeton will start from gate 10. Both colts galloped at Caulfield on Tuesday morning, having last raced in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on September 27.
Punters can view the latest markets for the Caulfield Guineas and compare bookmaker odds at Australia’s top betting sites.
