Five-year-old pacer Our Vinnie, described by his trainer-reinsman Chris Voak as a lazy and frustrating horse, broke through for his first win for just over two years and ended a losing sequence of 39 when he set the pace and defied a spirited last-lap challenge from Skylon to beat that pacer by a half-length in the Foton All New AMT With Cummins Handicap, a stand over 2503m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Our Vinnie, without a success since winning the South Australian Derby at Globe Derby in October 2023, was the $5.50 second fancy from the inside barrier on the front line, with Skylon, the 2023 WA Derby winner and sole backmarker off 30 metres, the $3 favourite.
Our Vinnie dashed straight to the front, and after a lap Skylon was well back in ninth position. Gary Hall jar eased Skylou into the clear 1200m from home and the five-year-old sprinted fast to get a length in front of Our Vinnie at the bell. But he was unable to cross to the front, and the pair were locked together in a fierce duel throughout the final lap.
Vaak is the sixth trainer to prepare Our Vinnie during his 68-start career which has produced just seven wins, 22 placings and $165,415 in prizemoney.
“I have had hm for almost 12 months,” said Vaak. “I leased him from Danny Zavitsanos, and finally we have crackled the code with him.
“He never has had the desire to win. But recently I changed his work and have been giving him more heat work, and this has sharpened him up and he is showing a bit more zest.
“Tonight, it was good that Junior (Hall) came around and put the pressure on us. Our Vinnie responded and fought back to resist the challenge. I am running him in stands because he doesn’t like being gassed off the gate too hard.”
Before arriving in WA Our Vinnie won four races in Victoria and two in South Australia for Savastano’s, a Geelong businessman who is one of Australia’s biggest harness owners, whose recent star pacers include Cruz Bromic (27 wins and $1,103,319), Mach Dan (28 wins and $1,039,210),Major Delight (22 wins and $729,122), Fox Dan (ten wins and $647,007), War Dan Buddy (11 wins and $445,927), Petracca (13 wins and $335,278), Oliver Dan (nine wins and $181,167) and Viney (six wins and $45,420).
Our Vinnie is by former star pacer Vincent and is the fifth foal out of Rock’n’roll Hanover mare Our Santa Catalina, who raced 48 times for 13 wins, 11 placings and $79,060.
