Vilana earns a trip to Brisbane with brilliant Randwick win
Vilana was brilliant winning the Hall Mark Stakes at Royal Randwick.
Jockey Nash Rawiller had to resort to 'plan B' before Godolphin talent Vilana showed his class to stamp himself as a genuine Group 1 threat at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Rawiller was trapped three-deep in the run but never panicked, knowing he was on the best horse in the race.
Vilana vindicated Rawiller's high opinion of the four-year-old as the James Cummings-trained entire extended clear stylishly over the concluding stages to win the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m).
"I love this horse, I think he's got bigger things ahead of him," Rawiller said.
"Certainly you don't want a tough run like that first-up but full credit to him.
"Off a couple of trials he was a bit fitter than probably I rode him last time first-up so I think he'll bounce through that run well."
Vilana had to show great tenacity to wear down the bold front runner Coal Crusher but got to him at the 100m mark and went sailing by.
Vilana ($3.10 fav) hit the line strongly to finish 1-1/4 lengths clear of John O'Shea's Waihaha Falls ($7.50) with the Bryce Heys-trained Key Largo ($16) getting the head down for third.
"He's a beautiful horse," Rawiller said.
"He didn't have the ideal kick off today the way the race panned out for him.
"But he oozes class and he dropped the bridle for me where we were. By the time we got to the 600m there was no real worries because he relaxed and just got into that right rhythm that he was going to run the trip."
A date with the Brisbane Winter Carnival looms for Vilana.Vilana is simply a class above!
The Silver Eagle and Hunter winner salutes in style in the G3 Hall Mark Stakes. @JamesCummings88@nashhotpic.twitter.com/2TwtgToZQM
- SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 15, 2023
Cummings took the son of Hallowed Crown to Queensland last year where he finished eighth in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap with multiple Group 1 options on the table again this year.
"The horse's rating is already pretty high so it's going to be hard for him in a Stradbroke, but we're happy to target the race," Cummings said.
"The Kingsford Smith Cup looks right in his hitting zone, we might even give him a run in the Doomben 10,000 in between."
Vilana had his quote slashed in several Group 1 markets, shortening from $26 into $11 for the Doomben 10,000, $11 into $6 for the Kingsford-Smith Cup and $11 into $6 equal favourite for the Stradbroke.
A maiden Group 1 would seal Vilana's spot on Darley stallion roster as early as this year's breeding season.
"He will probably be capable of going on and covering a few mares at the end of the year if we can knock off a Group One with him, that would be ideal," Cummings said.
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