He’ll travel far and wide for a race, and rarely does Gratz Vella leave somewhere disappointed.
The Canberra-based conditioner, known most famously for winning the 2011 Black Opal with Outsider You’re Canny (Richard Bensley), is now closing in on 500 career wins and isn’t showing any signs of slowing down.
Having trained 34 winners over the past 12 months at a 14.4% win rate, Vella’s prepared runners throughout NSW, but has predominantly enjoyed his success in the South East and Southern Districts, winning at Canberra (9), Wagga (4), Queanbeyan (3), Sapphire Coast (3), Gundagai (3), Moruya (2), Goulburn (2), and Albury (2).
Trekking into the Central West on Friday, Vella had runners at Parkes, and Prophet Time (Coriah Keatingas, $6) won her fourth career race in the 1000m Benchmark 58 Handicap.
The 6YO Nostradamus mare is racing in career-best form. Four starts back, she won the 1100m Benchmark 50 Handicap at Cowra on November 22 and very nearly won again in the 1000m Benchmark 50 Handicap at Canberra on December 5.
The consistent mare and connections were rewarded at Parkes, with Prophet Time racing midfield for Keatings before being unleashed for a well-timed run before winning by a length.
Vella has been picking up consistent winners of late, with Nefradite (Caitlin Sinclair, $6.50) too good in the 1000m Maiden Plate at the Sapphire Coast on December 29.
Teylu has been the stable star in recent months, with the 4YO D’Argento gelding boasting a record of 13 starts for five wins, seven minor placings, and over $100,000 in prizemoney.
The grey is a popular runner every time he parades, and punters have also grown to love him and regular jockey Pierre Boudvillain in recent times, as he’s won three straight races.
Landing a victory over the Snake Gully Cup carnival, where Vella trained a winning double, Teylu ($2.15) kicked off his winning run in the 1000m Class Two Handicap.
Then followed back-to-back victories at Wagga in December, first triumphing in the 1000m Class Three Handicap as a $6 chance on December 9.
Taking on his toughest race to date, Teylu triumphed in the 1200m Benchmark 82 Handicap as a $1.80 shot on December 24, beating some nice horses in Big Day Out and Tap ‘N’ Run.
The Canberra stable ventures to Queanbeyan today, with Vella boasting two more good chances to add to his season tally.
Hard Grunt (Jessica Brookes, $3.90) is one of the favourites in the 2000m Class One/Maiden Handicap, while Crucial Witness (Caitlin Sinclair, $8.50) is in the market when second-up from a spell in the 1200m Benchmark 58 Handicap.
