All Too Hard's Villermont On Track for Queensland Derby

Mark Smith - Saturday April 28

Sandown Guineas winner Villermont is likely to head to the Group 1 Queensland Derby following a nail-biting win in Saturday's Group III Gunsynd Classic (1630m) at Doomben.

The son of All Too Hard looked set for a comfortable win when Damian Browne dashed him clear at the 300-metre mark, however, the Sydney visitor Dark Dream (All American) refused to lay down and closed the margin to a nose on the line.

Advertisement

It was five and a half lengths back to Omineca (Makfi) in third place.


Villermont advances his record to three wins and one third from nine starts with earnings of $313,060

With trainer Ciaron Maher in Sydney, stable representative Annabel Neasham said Villermont was likely to press on to the Queensland Derby.

"It was a great ride by Damian from the wide barrier. The instructions were to drive forward and lead if possible and he did just that," Neasham told AAP.

Purchased by Ciaron Maher for $250,000 at the 2016 Easter Yearling Sale, Villermont (pictured as a yearling ) races for a large syndicate headed by Vinery Stud.

He is the seventh and final foal of the Group I Coolmore Classic heroine Bollinger who died in October last year.

The daughter of Dehere (USA) spent the majority of her broodmare career in America where her best was the Grade II Louisiana Derby winner Friesan Fire (AP Indy) who was sent off one of the favourites in the 2009 Kentucky.

The winner of five of her eight starts, Bollinger was a half-sister to Group III winners Mannington and Sheraton out of Marscay's 1993 Golden Slipper winner Bint Marscay.

Mannington is the dam of Group I Victoria Derby winner Benicio and Group II winner Romneya.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Generation Foals Built for Speed
Victorian farm Lovatsville offer a diverse stallion roster for this spring geared to satisfy a wide spectrum of breeder ambitions and if explosive Aussie speed is your thing then Snitzel stallion Generation will fit the bill.
One to Watch – Geelong
Trilogy Racing will have high hopes for the their talented filly Queen of Clubs in the Group I ATC Flight Stakes on Saturday and their colours were in the frame at Geelong on Thursday carried by a Zoustar filly that saluted on debut.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Caulfield
Three barrier trials at Caulfield on Thursday morning produced heat winners for first season sires Wild Ruler and Profiteer with the quickest winner being Free Flying, the half-sister by Snitzel to brilliant Group winning mare Learning to Fly.
Blueblood Fillies From $3million Mares
Tom Magnier has been notable for his purchase of elite race fillies and broodmares in recent years to enhance the stellar Coolmore broodmare band and two of his $3million plus mare purchases have produced stunning fillies this spring.
Milan Park Experience Highs and Lows
Tony Rider experienced the extreme highs and lows of breeding thoroughbreds within a matter of hours on Wednesday.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 2
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
New SW Wrote - Fast Network Wins G3 National Day Cup
Trainer Dennis Yip claimed a timely first win of the 2025/26 season, taking out the feature HK$4.2 million Gr.3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin’s National Day fixture on Wednesday when his stable star Fast Network, a New Zealand bred son of Wrote, blitzed a strong field under Alexis Badel.
Melody Belle Daughter Set for Long Awaited Debut
It will be a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at The Valley on Friday night when Lyrics ‘N’ Song, a daughter of their former multiple Group One winner Melody Belle, makes her debut.
NZ Derby Hero Willydoit Primed for Epsom
Last season’s New Zealand Derby hero Willydoit will step back into the spotlight on Saturday when he contests the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick for trainer Ciaron Maher, with jockey Tommy Berry bullish the horse is ready to make his mark over the famous mile.
Inglis Ready2Race breeze up footage NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
Progeny of the likes of Toronado, Exceed and Excel, Harry Angel, Zoustar and Ole Kirk were amongst the standout performers from breeze up sessions conducted this week in the lead up to the Inglis Ready2Race Sale on October 16, footage of which is now available online.