Sledmere Stud sales graduate Veight returned to racing for his late season 3-year-old campaign with an impressive victory in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley run under Standard Weight-For-Age conditions.
Having his first start since the first week of November, the first-crop son of Grunt (NZ) was sent to post a short-priced favourite and justified the support with a determined win on debut in open-age sprint company.
Ridden by Damian Lane for co-trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy, Veight was settled just off the pace in the early stages and always appeared to be traveling well enough to play a big part in the finish. Despite spotting second favourite Recommendation a three-length head-start at the top of the short Moonee Valley straight, the Sledmere Stud graduate hit the line full of running to claim the coveted contest.
Co-trainer Calvin McEvoy observed after the win: “He had to chase today, but he really knuckled down there and that is what you want to see these good colts do. He’s proved himself against the older horses now and let’s hope he can go and do that again next start.”
McEvoy Jnr added: “He’s pretty explosive at these 1200 and 1400-metre trips, so it’s exciting.”
A member of the farm’s 2022 Inglis Sydney Classic Yearling Sale consignment, Veight fetched $220,000 and is now the winner of four races and $1,215,000 in prizemoney. In winning the Australia Stakes, the brilliant colt joined an honour roll which includes some of Australia’s finest modern day sprinters, among them the likes of Black Caviar (2010 & 2012) and Schillaci (1993).
In addition to claiming the latest renewal of the Australia Stakes, Veight’s record also includes victory in the Group 2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) as a 2-year-old and the Group 3 McNeil Stakes (1200m) earlier this 3-year-old season, as well as second in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m).
Veight is now expected to contest the Group 1 Orr Stakes (1400m) and Futurity Stakes (1400m) as his next two starts, with either the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) or the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) then to come under consideration.
Sledmere Stud remain in the ownership group of Veight along with close family relation Jock Mackay of Cangon Stud Farm.