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As one of the top three vendors of 2021 at Inglis’ Ready To Race sale, Vella knew he had his work cut out for him with one epic 2021 draft. He speaks to The Impact about how his powerful and well-educated draft, and the success of those horses, means to him.
Q: This is your second draft at Inglis’ Ready To Race sale? How did your first draft do?
A: Last year was very successful for us. We had the second-highest horse in the sale, bringing A$550,000. So, it was very good last year, but our draft is much better this year.
Q: You have a fantastic draft this year. Please let tell us about your draft highlights.
A: I have two Deep Fields, a Capitalist, a Vancouver and a Tornado. They are my top five. They're very big, strong, sound and powerful horses. They're very forward in their attitudes and have done well during the preparation which is quite a tough process.
Q: How do you pick the horses for your draft?
A: We handpick them from the sales. We go to the Magic Millions and the Inglis sales specifically to buy for the breeze-up sales. We pick nice pedigrees and types. We spent a fair bit of money this year. We always buy them at a good price range. And I educate them the same as if I was educating the horse to go to the races The only thing, I do in the last week is that I let them get off a bit quicker than what I normally would at this stage of their career.
As the whole thing about the breeze apps is running good time, so we let them gallop up quickly as they are on their way to the breeze ups.
Q: How did the change in dates affect you?
A: It was much better for the horses because they get a chance to go to the paddock and have a little spell and relax before going to the sale.
Q: Are you nervous about the sale going digital?
A: No I’m not. We have lots of videos and photos of the horses. So if it does become a virtual sale, there will be plenty of footage, along with x-ray results and everything else a buyer would need. So there won’t be a problem.
If a buyer wants to view the horse in the paddock, that isn’t a problem either.
Q: How did you get involved with this industry? What was your background? What you know, how did that happen?
A: When I started, I lived up the road from Bart Cummings’ stable. And I went there and asked them for a job. The rest is history. That is how I got into racing.
Q: And how did you start off selling horses at the Ready To Race sales?
A: Henry Fields of Newgate Farm is a really good friend of mine. He asked me to do a draft for him and it went quite well. And that's how I got involved.
Q: How do you see the 2YO Ready To Race sales market developing in Australia?
A: I think if people have an open mind and realise that these are perfectly nice horses for the sale, they will be much more successful.