Australia: Vinco cuts back for Eye Liner Stakes

The resilient gelding Vinco started 31 times before he won his first stakes in the listed Spear Chief Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Australia on June 4.

The win equaled the longest victory of his career, but was arguably not at his best distance. Vinco has won six races at distances of 6 1/2 to seven furlongs since his debut in early 2019, making his appearance in Saturday’s $140,900 Eye Liner Stakes at 6 3/4 furlongs at Ipswich Racecourse near Brisbane appear to be an ideal trip.

Trained by Tony Gollan, Vinco has had mixed results in the last month. In the race prior to the Spear Chief Stakes, Vinco was eighth of 16 in the Group 3 BRC Sprint at Eagle Farm on May 28, closing from last to lose by only 1 3/4 lengths at 80-1.

Vinco was 4-1 in early betting Thursday for the Eye Liner Stakes, the eighth race on a nine-race program that begins at 9:43 p.m. Eastern, or 6:43 p.m. Pacific, on Friday. There are two other stakes on the program. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing

Vinco, who will be ridden by regular rider Ben Thompson, drew post 7, which should help his closing style. In the Spear Chief Stakes, Vinco closed from fifth of 11 to win by 1 3/4 lengths.

The Eye Liner Stakes is a handicap, and conditions favor Vinco who will carry 121 pounds compared to topweight Emerald Kingdom at 131 pounds.

Emerald Kingdom, a winner of 12 of 31 starts, was 12th of 18 in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap at six furlongs at Eagle Farm on June 11, losing by seven lengths as a 25-1 chance. Emerald Kingdom, who raced as a stalker, was ninth in the BRC Sprint on May 28.

Emerald Kingdom’s last win came in the $311,300 The Archer Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs at Rockhampton on May 7, a race run for the first time this year in which owners purchased berths before finalizing a runner.

On Thursday, Emerald Kingdom was 8-1 for the Eye Liner. Holyfield, fourth in the Archer and BRC Sprint, is a stalker who is rated as a 5-1 chance in the Eye Liner.