Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Winning both the TAB & World Pool G2 Kewney Stakes and the G2 MSS Security Sires' Produce Stakes capped off a big day for Matt Laurie at Flemington on Saturday. On the back of that, all eyes are on potential Group 1 targets in Sydney.
Treasurethe Moment goes from strength to strength
When discussing this season’s G1 Victorian Oaks winner, Treasurethe Moment’s (Alabama Express) second-up win in the G2 Kewney Stakes, Laurie commented, “It was a very good win and an easy watch. We thought the race was perfect for her second up, up to a mile at Flemington where she loves racing, and dropping in weight. It just looked ideal.”
“It was a very good win and an easy watch. We thought the race was perfect for her (Treasurethe Moment) second up, up to a mile at Flemington.” - Matt Laurie
The plan for her is a trip north to Sydney, and with the hit list for the campaign remaining the G1 Vinery Stakes and the G1 ATC Oaks.
“We actually had these four races (Armanasco, Kewney, Vinery, and Oaks) in mind for her the whole time, and at the moment, it is playing out well. As always, it’s one step at a time, but it is exciting.”
When asked about Treasurethe Moment’s incredible form and progression, Laurie said, “About halfway through last preparation, she just went to another level and has gone on to win six in a row. She has a winning record and just keeps stepping up.”
Treasurethe Moment winning G2 Kewney Stakes at Flemington | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We were very keen on her before the Wakeful Stakes, and she won very well. We kept her happy, and naturally didn’t have to do much with her before the Oaks, and she was very impressive. For her to be doing this over shorter trips this preparation reads very well, and gives us confidence for everything else ahead of us—both this prep and potentially as an older horse.”
Vinrock, now a Group 2 winner and remains unbeaten
Less than three weeks ago, the talented 2-year-old colt Vinrock (I Am Invincible) was unraced. Now, he is unbeaten in two starts and was the victor in the G2 Sires’ Produce Stakes at Flemington on Saturday. With Group 1 targets on the horizon, he is shaping up beautifully as a stallion prospect.
Reflecting on his win on Saturday, Laurie commented, “It was a great win in the Sires’. He won very well on debut at Pakenham, where he beat a field of 2-year-olds with more experience than he had. He led up and kicked strongly.”
“On the back of that, we were confident he would run well on Saturday, and he did it in similar fashion. He has always given me the feeling that he would be effective at seven or eight furlongs. He’s a tough horse - handles training well, is sound, and doesn’t have soreness at all.”
Vinrock winning G2 Sires' Produce Stakes at Flemington | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He actually showed us plenty last preparation. He copped it really well, and we could have raced him, but we decided to give him a little break. That looks like the right decision now.”
“He’s up and going at the right time, and it looks like he could be the fresh one on the block. He will head up to Sydney, and we will enter him in the G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes. We will see how we go, but we could go to the G1 Champagne Stakes after, or we might pull up stumps. It could be a big month or so.”
“He’s (Vinrock) up and going at the right time, and it looks like he could be the fresh one on the block. He will head up to Sydney, and we will enter him in the G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes.” - Matt Laurie
Discussing Vinrock’s background as a $300,000 purchase from the 2024 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Laurie commented, “I bought him off Rosemont with Willannah Park Bloodstock. He was really good value—I could have paid more. I valued him higher, and I wonder if other trainers thought the same since he was passed in. I was thinking to myself, ‘That’s a very nice horse: why did he pass in?’
“So I got his X-rays done, clean, then we raced down there and secured him. We got lucky.”
Vinrock is by I Am Invincible and out of the talented Redoute’s Choice mare Girl Gone Rockin’, who won just under $300,000 on the track, including the G2 Matriarch Stakes.
Matt Laurie | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
She has made a good start to her broodmare career with her other two runners having already been winners.
Laurie noted, “If he’s (Vinrock) able to do it, he becomes a very sought-after horse. He’s doing it early, he’s by the right sire, he’s already a Group 2 winner, and he’s out of a Group 2-winning mare. There isn’t an Australian Group 1-winning 2-year-old son of I Am Invincible (Move To Strike has won a Group 1 in New Zealand), so if he were to do that, he would be a very valuable stallion prospect.”
Vinrock is raced by a strong group of stable clients, whom Laurie described as “a very good bunch of clients. They are very loyal, and I’m very happy for them.”
Laurie naturally a big fan of Alabama Express
Laurie’s star filly is by Yulong Stud’s exciting young stallion Alabama Express.
“I really like the stallion (Alabama Express). They can sprint, and they can stretch. Naturally, I have had a good look at all of them, after training Treasurethe Moment, but I do like them. We bought a beautiful colt at Premier - we had to pay a bit for him, but I don’t mind that when I get the ones I really like. I also bought a filly by him at Millions as well.”
“I really like the stallion (Alabama Express). They can sprint, and they can stretch. Naturally, I have had a good look at all of them, after training Treasurethe Moment, but I do like them.” - Matt Laurie
“It’s pretty amazing for Yulong. They put so much into it. Numbers don’t always mean you get a good one, but they have managed to get a good one straight off the mark.”
“They believe in their stallion. They bred a lot of mares to him and are prepared to race a lot of their own stock, which can help you get going—and they have ended up with a star like her.”
Laurie has been busy this year at all of the major sales, he has purchased yearlings this year by the likes of Alabama Express, Sword Of State, Capitalist, Super Seth, Shalaa, Dundeel, and Castelvecchio.
Alabama Express | Standing at Yulong
“We have bought some really nice yearlings this year and the sires are going well. Super Seth has had a couple of big Group 1 results. We have a glamour filly by Dundeel that is related to Lady Of Camelot, and that is one of the best families around, so she has plenty of residual value.
“The good judges were on the Alabama colt I purchased at Premier. The Hawkes team was after him, and they know how to buy a good horse, so that gives me confidence.”
“We have a nice young team and some exciting ones to come.”
Can 2025 get better?
It has been a strong season for Laurie, who currently sits ninth on the Melbourne Premiership table with 41 winners, just under $2.9 million in stakes earnings, at a very good a strike rate of just over 20 per cent.
When asked about his season, Laurie said, “We are staying solid. It’s hard to get these top-level horses , but we have been doing it for a while now. We stay solid, do what we do, and are very grateful for the support.
“We are staying solid. It’s hard to get these top-level horses , but we have been doing it for a while now. We stay solid, do what we do, and are very grateful for the support.” - Matt Laurie
“I have a good team and and some nice stock around us at the moment. Hopefully we can win a couple of Group 1s in Sydney and it will make it a fantastic season”
