St Vincents Garden Gutsy

Purchased just over a fortnight ago and syndicated among Te Akau owners, St Vincents Garden (5 g Camelot – Mona Brown, by Dylan Thomas) made a great start for his new stable when winning the A$27,000 Benchmark 64 2418 metres on 20 June at Geelong (Victoria).

Lot 20 at the Inglis 2025 May (Late) Online Sale, after finishing fourth in the Benchmark 78 2400 metres on 25 May at Randwick, St Vincents Garden was purchased for $100,000 by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM.

A winner over 2400 metres in the UK, before finishing sixth in the Group 2 Queen’s Vase over 2800m at Royal Ascot, and finishing third in the Listed Vinnie Roe over the same distance, St Vincents Garden transferred as a four-year-old to Australia, and was offered for sale following four starts during his current campaign.

At the time of sale, St Vincents Garden was described as a quality horse with proven ability, untapped potential over ground, genuine and straightforward, and good to train, ride, and handle. 

And trainer Mark Walker added: “I think he was great value at $100,000, considering he ran fourth last start in a good $160,000 race (25 May) at Randwick.

“He had very good form in Ireland, before coming to Australia, and, overall, he was lightly raced with just 13 starts.

“He is a lovely type of horse, good bodied, and has a great temperament.

“He’s the type of horse we can target races from 2000m – 3200m and he certainly has the pedigree to appreciate longer distances.”

Still eligible for Benchmark 64 races, Walker elected to drop him back in grade and engaged the services of Champion Jockey Craig Williams, who rode La Dorada (Super Seth) to become the eighth $1 million Karaka Millions 2YO winner for the stable in January at Ellerslie.

Drawn barrier one, St Vincents Garden began well to secure a lovely trip, was off the fence at the 1400m, received a drag into proceedings from the 1000m, and once popped the question in the straight he drew out late to beat Sun Gift (Savabeel).

It was a very good performance by St Vincents Garden, first-up in the tangerine, and saw Williams at his cagey inimitable best.

“I think the race was won by getting off the fence at the 600m to track (Sun Gift) one of the main opponents in the race and he fought it out hard until the end,” Williams said. 

“Luckily, I had the right horse, that was extremely well placed, well prepared, and he’ll get some confidence from today.

“I had a look at his record and he’d won over 2400 metres, so he’s an out and out staying type. 

“They (Te Akau Racing) are great preparation people and they love to plan well.”

On course, assistant trainer Ben Gleeson said: “It was beautiful ride by Craig, and to get him here on a Friday is a real plus.

“The horse came down to us, from the Freedman stable in Sydney, in impeccable order and he presented really well today.

“We’ve had a bit of luck with online (purchased) horses and the owners have been really loyal in supporting us and he was sold in 24 hours.

“He’ll step up to a Benchmark 70 now, but if can get a couple of wins on board it will cover the costs and you never know what he might pick up through the winter.

“He’s a horse that can easily step out to 2800 and 3000 metres, and there might be a few suitable races at Flemington.”

In the race named Tell Your Mates You Love Them, St Vincents Garden scored by a neat length, ran the 2418 metres in 2:34.8 on Soft6 footing, and kept gaining support in the betting to start $3.60 race favourite. 

“It was really nice to get a win with him first-up, especially for his confidence going forward,” Walker said.

“He was beautifully ridden by Craig Williams, and one thing I’ve learned with these European staying horses is that a win can really put a spring in their step.

“He did arrive in wonderful order from the Freedman stable, but we just dropped him back in class with the hope of getting him into winning form. 

“It showed he was very strong through the line at 2400 metres and it should do him the world of good.”

St Vincents Garden is by UK and European Champion Three-Year-Old Camelot, winner of the 2000 Guineas, Epsom Derby, and Irish Derby, in turn he is by European Champion Three-Year-Old Montjeu (Sadler’s Wells), who also won the Irish Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe among six Group One wins. 

Mona Brown is by proven dam sire Dylan Thomas (Danehill), whose progeny have won nearly 2000 races, including 93 stakes' wins and 14 Group Ones.

Winner of three races to 2100m, Mona Brown has left four winners of eight races, including stakes placed Mona’s Melody (Ruler Of The World).

St Vincents Garden was strapped by Abby Reid.