Exciting times at Vinery

Vinery sire Excites is poised to increase his black-type strike-rate with Sistine Demon and Red Excitement this month.

The four year-old geldings earned a further rise up the ranks after impressive city wins on Saturday.

Sistine Demon (4g Excites – Famous Painter by Peintre Celebre) upgraded his record to 6 wins in 13 starts following a two-length victory in the Thomas North Hcp (1400m) at Caulfield.  “The horse travelled well the whole way and gave me a great feel in front,” jockey Jamie Kah said.  “The result was never in doubt.”

Trainer Andrew Noblet said Sistine Demon keeps getting better with every run and will be set for the $260,000 Listed Kilmore Cup (1600m) on February 23.  He is raced by West Australian based breeder Warren Gellard along with fellow part-owners Michael French and Darren Thomas.

Gellard bred him from Famous Painter who is an unraced daughter of Flemington stakes winner Rancheetah (Rancher).  The mare has a yearling filly by Big Brown and a colt on the ground by Testa Rossa.

Trainer Gerald Ryan is also weighing up plans for Red Excitement after another tough win in the February Hcp (1400m) at Rosehill.

Red Excitement (4g Excites – Red Obsession by Red Ransom) was never on the track but dug deep to defeat Darley galloper Limes by a neck.  “He loves being out wide,” Ryan said.  “He likes to stride out and doesn’t appreciate being cluttered up.

“We can keep him here for the (G2) Apollo Stakes in three weeks but it’s over 1400 metres and I reckon he wants a mile now.”

Ryan will look at the Melbourne calendar for a black-type race to suit Red Excitement during their autumn carnival.  The stable has a strong team travelling south headed by Group 1 candidates Rubick (Blue Diamond) and Snitzerland (Lightning Stakes / Oakleigh Plate).

“He’s a no hassle horse,” Ryan explained.  “The harder you ride him, the better he goes and then he comes home and eats all his feed.”

Red Excitement has won 7 races and over $420,000 for owners Andrew, Arthur and Artie Laing in partnership with Glenn and Viive Williams.  He was a $32,500 buy at the 2011 Inglis Classic Sale and his dam is from a sister to G1 Golden Slipper winner Merlene.

Excites stood for a service fee of $5,500 at Vinery last year.