Villermont to target Sandown Guineas

Tom Baddock - Wednesday October 18

Brilliant maiden winner Villermont will step out as a short-priced favourite in the Alannah Hill Benchmark 70 Plate (1600m) at Caulfield on Wednesday en route to the Sandown Guineas.

Advertisement
Villermont returns to scale at Benalla after a 5-1/4 length win.

The son of All Too Hard out of Group I winning mare Bollinger put in a strong closing performance on debut at Sandown Hillside over 1400m behind Wassergeist before annihilating a maiden field at Benalla by 5-1/4 lengths over 1600m.

"He was terrific first-up at Sandown and then he went to Benalla and he was a class above," trainer Aaron Purcell said.

"He obviously has to take another step up tomorrow but the way he gets around at home and the presence of the horse would indicate there's better races in store for him.

"Looking at the horse he's very much a stamp of his old man, All Too Hard.

"He's a great big beautiful strong horse and he gallops with the good horses here so we expect him to end up racing with the good horses.

"He's bred to be good and so far he has looked the goods. He's come through last start really well. He looks a million dollars.

"He's really well-prepared for Wednesday."

On the back of his dominant victory Villermont's price tumbled in from as much as $60 into a high of $15 in the Group I Victoria Derby, although the stable has decided on a different route.

"He's probably going to stay at a mile this preparation," Purcell said.

"If he goes well tomorrow he'll probably go to the Carbine Club on Derby Day and then possibly the Sandown Guineas.

"After this preparation we'll reassess what his best distance is.

"There was a discussion that he'd go towards the Victoria Derby but we felt a mile at this stage of his life it would suit him better."

Although the stable believes Villermont will prove extremely difficult to beat on Wednesday they are wary of the wide barrier draw.

"He's probably drawn a bit awkwardly in nine so he's probably going to need a few things to go right for him but I'm sure if things do go right he's going to be really hard to beat tomorrow."

Stablemate Black Sail also lines up in the race and Purcell believes he's also capable of running a good race after being only narrowly beaten last start at Flemington behind Octabello.

"He's another really nice horse," Purcell said.

"Up to the mile is really going to suit him.

"He ran really well at Flemington the other day. There's no reason why he couldn't run well again.

"If he runs well we'll push on towards a race like the Carbine Club also."

Villermont is currently $2.30 with Bet365 to make it two wins on the trot while Black Sail is quoted at $17.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Inglis Easter Bargain Wins $100,000 Inglis Xtra Maiden
One of the cheapest yearlings from the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Big Tiger is shaping as a saleyard gift after opening his account at his second start at Rosehill on Wednesday when taking out the $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus maiden.
Mystic Park Wins G3 TAB Mile
Riccarton galloper Mystic Park prevailed in a thrilling tussle between the locals in the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) on his home track on Wednesday.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday November 12
Here is the full list of 52 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Doubtland’s Blaze Away Gives Trainer Claire Patterson First City Winner
Having just his fourth career start, progressive 3yo Doubtland gelding Blaze Away recorded consecutive wins, pulling clear to win the fourth race of the day at Caulfield on Wednesday, MRC The Big Screen Company Handicap (1100m), giving his trainer Claire Patterson her first city winner.
Smart Filly Keeps Winners Coming for Capitalist
Capitalist is a sire on fire with 10 winners in the past seven days and 31 in the past 30 and adding her name to the list at Caulfield on Wednesday was promising three year-old filly Espana.
Winning Debut for $2.2million Zoustar Filly
The highest priced yearling by champion sire Zoustar sold in 2024 when fetching $2.2million at Inglis Easter, Plaintiff made her debut in a fillies maiden at Rosehill on Wednesday and came away with a stylish victory.
Tajana Primed To Take On The Boys At Riccarton
Shaune Ritchie hopes his decision to bypass the fillies’ feature at Riccarton with Tajana will pay off on Saturday when she takes on the boys in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m).
New Trainer- Winx Sister Finds Winning Form
As a three-quarter sister to world champion Winx, four year-old Pride of Dubai mare Wings of Desire has always had the spotlight on her and she got back into the winner’s circle at Caulfield on Wednesday at her first run for new trainer Grahame Begg.
Zoustar Mating for Coeur Volante - $500,000 on Inglis Digital
Talented mare Coeur Volante (Proisir) will visit reigning Champion Sire Zoustar after selling for $500,000 in today’s Spring Boutique Sale on Inglis Digital.
$750,000 Per Incanto Colt Tops NZB Ready to Run Day 1
Day One of NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale delivered strong results across the board with the aggregate reaching $19,232,000 for 119 lots sold, and the median climbing 33% to an impressive $120,000.