Vinery Stud Stakes: Pro punter preview and value bet

The Vinery Stud Stakes – officially named the Storm Queen Stakes – is a 2000m Group 1 race for three-year-old fillies, held at Rosehill Racecourse in autumn. Total prizemoney is $500,000. The race is named after Storm Queen, who won the 1967 Golden Slipper as well as many other feature races. The Vinery Stud Stakes is the main lead-up race for the Australian Oaks, which is held at Randwick later in the Autumn. The Vinery Stud Stakes is run on Tancred Stakes Day.

Vinery Stud Stakes 2022: Alfie’s preview

Track I’m working on a heavy surface, with rain predicted Friday and Saturday. It’s hard to say what the pattern will be early, but I’m looking for horses that are forward.

Speed I’d say the pace is just average here. Expect Never Been Kissed, Gin Martini, Stray and Yearning to battle it out for the front.

Runner-by-runner

Prices courtesy of TopSport at time of publication.

Hinged [$3.80] gets a nice run in behind the speed and handles the wet. She’s a big chance.

Gypsy Goddess [$4.40] is drawn out wide and is unseen on truly wet ground. She’s a talent but putting those two things together makes it hard to back at the current price. But she’s one that we know can run out the distance.

Fangirl [$6] was looking great three starts ago but the two runs since have been a bit disappointing. Can she handle the wet? Waller is a grand final trainer!

Pretty Amazing [$8]  is making a big step up in class. But she has the JMac / Waller combo, so can’t be discounted.

Verry Elleegant’s first of 11 G1 victories was the @VineryStud Stakes at #RosehillGardens in 2019.

Trainer @cwallerracing has 3 runners in Saturday’s edition including Hinged, Fangirl and Pretty Amazing as they head towards the G1 Australian Oaks on April 9 at #RoyalRandwick. pic.twitter.com/ByoKZf0uxb

— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) March 24, 2022

Never Been Kissed [$9.50] is third-up now and can peak off her last start. If she can steal some cheap sectionals out in front, she’s in with a chance.

Yearning [$15] will need to improve to match the top horses here, and the wide gate makes it tough.

Mokulua [$21] is up in grade and might find this a little tough.

Hope In Your Heart [$26] started $101 in the last Group 1 she contested  Enough said..

Honeycreeper [$34] gets Kah on. This is a big step up in grade and she needs to improve to match it with the top rated horses.

The race has a pretty long tail and there’s quite a few that I think are simply outclassed: Stray [$34], Pink Ivory [$16], Ellenmac [$101], Youthfull [$101], Hidden Smile [$151] and Gin Martini [$51].

Betting approach

I have Hinged on top but would want $5.20 plus to get involved. If Never Been Kissed can steal some early sectionals, for mine she’s worth a small play at the current odds.