Orchestral and Zardozi named Vinery Stud Stakes favourites

Rosehill Racecourse in New South Wales is set to host the Vinery Stud Stakes on Saturday, March 30. A total prize pool of $500,000 will be up for grabs at the 2000m race for three year-old fillies this week.  
 
Two names look to be prime contenders to finish the race on top on Saturday; Orchestral and Zardozi. Orchestral is the reigning Karaka Millions 3YO winner, while Zardozi has recently won the Phar Lap Stakes.  

Vinery Stud Stakes favourites overview

Orchestral and Zardozi are even favourites heading into this weekend’s big race at $6.00.  
 
Zardozi has been described as a star on the rise after her big performance at last week’s Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes at Rosehill. The punters think she’s ready to take the step up and dominate the Vinery Stud Stakes.  
 
Orchestral, meanwhile, recently came away with a dominant victory of her own last week at the Karaka Millions 3YO at the Ellerslie racecourse in January. Orchestral is trained by New Zealanders Roger James and Robert Wellwood.  
 
James and Wellwood famously won the 2023 Vinery Stud Stakes with their horse Prowess. The Kiwis have tipped Orchestral to follow in the footsteps of her stablemate. However, they also think Orchestral could go more than Prowess.  
 
“We'd love to come back and see her duck around there," Wellwood said, referring to the chances of Orchestral racing at the 2400m course at Randwick. “There's nothing locked in at the moment, we really need to have a sit down with the owner and discuss options. There's a lot of options with her.” 
 
"But more than likely she'll follow a similar sort of path to what Prowess did last year but we've probably got a little bit more confidence that this filly might see an Oaks trip, whereas we took Prowess straight home after the Vinery.” 

Kimochi trainer talks up chances

Zardozi and Orchestral are dominating the Vinery Stud Stakes horse racing betting markets right now, but there are some other names horse racing experts say are worth keeping an eye on. First on that list is Kimochi, who currently has $11.00 Kimochi odds to place.  

“I think they’ve got it wrong,” said Kimochi’s trainer Gary Portelli this week. “I know you’ve got two Group One winners there, my filly hasn’t won one yet but she has raced the best of them. I don’t think she should be that far out of the market, that’s for sure.” 
 
Kimochi finished as runner-up in the Flight Stakes (1600m) and Thousand Guineas (1600m) last spring before getting her first win at the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Randwick in February.  
 
Headline: Other Vinery Stud Stakes favourites 
Orchestral, Kimochi, and Zardozi are just three of many horses set to race this weekend.  
 
Autumn Angel ($8), Mare Of Mt Buller ($11.00), and Tropical Squall ($11.00) are also among the contenders to place at the Vinery Stud Stakes on Saturday.