Kate Brideoake may have secured two winning draws and one testing one, but she was happy to joke that her “marriage is safe” after stepping up for the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) barrier draw on Tuesday.
The Mornington-based Laurie stable, headed by Brideoake and her husband Matt Laurie, will be represented by three runners in Saturday’s Group 1 classic — Prestige Ole, Vega For Luck and leading hope Vinrock.
With the pressure on to pull good barriers, Brideoake did just that for her first two selections — Prestige Ole drawing gate four and Vega For Luck slotting into seven — before Vinrock’s draw of 14 slightly dampened the mood.
“Prestige Ole and Vega For Luck were good, but Vinrock’s a little wide, but it’s better than barrier one,” Brideoake said, smiling.
Vinrock comes into the Guineas after a frustrating run in the Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley, where he was badly hampered and later reported to be lame, following a strong Flemington win over 1400m earlier in September.
“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 alley, Brideoake believes Vinrock can run a big race provided he gets room to roll forward.
“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.”
“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.”
Vinrock currently sits third in the market at $7 behind 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 The Autumn Sun, has drawn barrier one, with Wodeton in 10. Both colts tuned up for the Guineas with gallops at Caulfield on Tuesday morning after contesting the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill.
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