New syndicator Vardy Thoroughbreds has busy weekend with runners at four meetings including two maidens at Newcastle

One of racing’s newer syndicators is enjoying great early success and has runners at four meeting across the weekend.

Hell Of A Fox finishes third on debut behind Mellifluent (No.5) and Excelindeed at Canterbury in February. Picture: Bradley Photos

Vardy Thoroughbreds are one of the newer syndicators in racing but they are enjoying great success.

Some of their recent winners include Winning Proposal, Exorealm, Taking The Mikki and Hellbent On You while horses like Agirlsbestfriend and Crafty Eagle have been great performers.

“We are in a bit of a golden patch at the moment,” said Steve Vardy, owner and founder of Vardy Thoroughbreds.

“When you buy young horses, it takes time to get to the races but all of a sudden, we have got a bit of a roll on.

“At the moment, we are kicking goals and I hope it doesn’t stop any time soon.”

With runners at Newcastle, Doomben and the Gold Coast on Saturday as well as Grafton on Sunday, it’s a busy weekend for Vardy and his team of trainers.

At Newcastle, trainer John Thompson prepares two-year-old fillies Hell Of A Fox in the 2YO Maiden (1200m) and Winning Statement in the 2&3YO Maiden (900m) who are both returning from a spell.

She was something of a good thing beaten on debut when closing powerfully from near last along the rails before jockey Keagan Latham had to grab hold near the line when in restricted room.

She finished a 1¼-length third behind Mellifluent in that Canterbury race on February 2.

.@Aaronbullock90 rides Exorealm to victory in the Taree opener! @kbuchananracingpic.twitter.com/KxvVGc0Xbq

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 25, 2024

“Keagan said she was going that fast along the fence, he had to pull up on her the last 50 metres of he would have cannonballed into the horse in front of him,” Vardy said.

“She was going to the line better than anything.

“At her next start, he may have been a victim of letting her go too early trying to catch up to one of Gai (Waterhouse) and Adrian’s (Bott). Unfortunately, that just burnt her out.

“I don’t think that performance reflected the ability she has got.

“She has hasn’t done much in her two trials this time back but we just don’t think she likes the heavy tracks.”

Winning Statement was also unlucky on debut when fourth to Turbinado over 900m at Newcastle on February 10 after being checked near the 500m and losing her momentum.

“She should have finished a lot closer. You can’t afford to lose any momentum in a race, especially in one over 900m,” Vardy said.

“She was bumped and lost ground as they started to pick up and sprint.

“I thought if not for that bad bump, she goes close to winning or at least finish second.

“The start after that was a little disappointing when she had to make two runs in the Black Opal Preview at Canberra.

“It’s very hard for any horse to do that, let along a two-year-old.

“She went forward early then came back off the speed and went again all the while being three-wide.

“John is a very patient trainer and doesn’t have them would up to win trials. These fillies will continue to progress through the preparation.”

Taking The Mikki gets his second career win today!@kbuchananracingpic.twitter.com/W8IP70Z3i3

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 9, 2024

Vardy is also looking forward to Exorealm running at Grafton on Sunday in the Class 1 Showcase Handicap (1006m).

The three-year-old is coming off a nice win on a Heavy 10 at Taree where he shared the lead before coming away to win by nearly two lengths.

“He is a horse that, at this stage of his career, goes better when he can race close to the rails and he drawn ideally in barrier two,” he said.

“He is going to a Class 1 so he is obviously going up in grade and there are a couple of handy horses in the race but I’m confident he can finish in the top three.”

Originally published as New syndicator Vardy Thoroughbreds has busy weekend with runners at four meetings including two maidens at Newcastle