Cambridge horsemen Roger James & Robert Wellwood saddle-up their talented Kiwi-trained filly Prowess in Sydney on Saturday with the gun three-year-old dominating 2023 Vinery Stud Stakes betting at Rosehill Gardens.

Last year’s Golden Slipper winning filly Fireburn is looking to return to her better form in the 2023 Vinery Stud Stakes this weekend in Sydney. Photo: Steve Hart.

The Group 1 $600,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) is the first of two elite level features on the Tancred Stakes Day card and serves as a key lead-up into Randwick’s Australian Oaks.

Tipped to continue her excellent string of victories travelling down under for the first time is Proisir filly Prowess who has won her last four back home in New Zealand.

At her latest she won the Group 1 Bonecrusher Stakes (2050m) on March 11 and presents a fit favourite in Australia this weekend.

Jockey Mark Zahra has the ride from a favourable barrier four draw with Prowess dominating Vinery Stud Stakes odds at $2.35 and firming through Ladbrokes.com.au.

The field is already officially down to 13 starters following the early withdrawal of Papillon Club (3) who instead races at The Valley on Friday night in the Group 3 Alexandra Stakes.

Of the remaining rivals only two others are at single figures with the danger being the Richard & Will Freedman-trained Pavitra at $3.30.

She comes in from gate nine to eight for jockey Chad Schofield and was enormous last time out winning the Group 3 Kembla Grange Classic second-up over a mile by four lengths.

Based on that huge performance she should eat-up the 2000m of the Vinery after back-to-back Melbourne Group placings over the distance last October.

Pavitra will only improve the further she gets having also run a strong second a length off She’s Extreme in the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington in the spring.

The only other single-figure fancy looking to return to her previous ace form is Gary Portelli’s dual Group 1 winning filly Fireburn ($8.50) in gate six for apprentice Tyler Schiller.

Schiller is in excellent form with the young hoop winning the Group 1 The Galaxy at the track last weekend aboard Mariamia.

He chases more top-level success partnering Fireburn this weekend with the Rebel Dane filly come off a fourth to Zougotcha in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) a fortnight back.

She chases her first turf triumph since completing the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes – Sires’ Produce double on Heavy tracks last autumn and would love for some rain to fall.

Coming off back-to-back wins in Tasmanian and representing a bit of value in the Vinery meanwhile at $12 is Soul Choice out in gate 13 for jockey Tim Clark.

The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained daughter of Redoute’s Choice has been the picture of consistency so far with three wins and three seconds from her six starts.

Her latest came in Black-Type company on the trot down in the Apple Isle including in the Listed Tasmanian Oaks (2100m) on February 19.

She has been given a freshen-up since coming back to the mainland for the Vinery Stud Stakes out to frank that form from Tasmanian which has been holding interstate this season.

Only last weekend at Moonee Valley Tasmanian cult horse The Inevitable made the trip up for the $5 million The All-Star Mile and was outstanding running under a length back third to Mr Brightside.

That bodes well for Soul Choice in Sydney on Saturday.

The Vinery Stud Stakes 2023 is set to run as Rosehill Race 7 at 4:00pm (AEDT) with full markets from Ladbrokes.com.au available by clicking here.

2023 Vinery Stud Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw

Table Credit: Racing Australia.