Undefeated in his first two starts in Melbourne, the Matt Laurie trained I Am Invincible colt Vinrock was heavily backed to beat local glamour colts Wodeton and Rivellino in the $1million Group I ATC Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) and duly got the job done with a tenacious display at Randwick on Saturday.
A last start winner of the Group II VRC Sires Produce Stakes, Vinrock looked a picture in the mounting yard and was given a beautiful ride by Mark Zahra.
He settled off the pace near the fence and powered through along the inside to score a long neck win over the late closing Wootton Bassett (GB) colt State Visit with Written By gelding Buffalo a head further back ahead of gun colts Wodeton and Rivellino in a thrilling finish.
Matt Laurie was saddling his second G1 winner in seven days with Treasurethemoment wining the Group I ATC Vinery Stud Stakes last Saturday and heading next to the Australian Oaks.
“I think he's a ripping colt. He's got a good brain, he's fantastic to ride, he's got great recovery and he's just tough,” said Matt Laurie.
“You put it to him, I mean he was under siege there and he just kept coming. Incredible effort to do all this in his first preparation.
"It's hard to describe, it really is. It's a dream come true."
Mark Zahra is three for three on the colt.
"He's a winner. He's unbeaten and he loves winning,” Zahra said.
“He's an absolute gentleman to ride and it was a good job because they were a fair way away from him, so he couldn't see them, but he still had his head out and was having a crack. It was a good win. Well done to Matt, he's done a great job with him.”
Vinrock was a $300,000 Inglis Premier purchase from Rosemont Stud for Matt Laurie Racing / Wilannah Park Bloodstock and has three wins from three starts with $930,000in the bank for his big team of owners, who are now sitting on one of the most valuable stallion prospects in the country.
He was passed in initially through the ring and Laurie wasted no time negotiating a sale shortly after.
Bred by Rosemont Stud, he is the best of three winners from Group II VRC Matriarch Stakes (2000m) winner Girl Gone Rockin’, a half-sister by Redoute’s Choice to Group III winner Syreon from Group II winner Sorrento.
Girl Gone Rockin’ has a yearling filly by Pierro and after missing in 2023 was covered by Churchill (IRE) last spring.
Vinrock is the 16th Group I winner for I Am Invincible and is his second G1 winning juvenile joining Move to Strike. The reigning champion sire had a juvenile stakes double with Blue Hotel earlier winning the Listed SAJC Dequetteville Stakes on debut in Adelaide.
