Yulong announce Vinrock as latest addition to ever-growing stallion roster
Group 1-winning colt Vinrock (I Am Invincible) will join the Yulong roster for 2026, entering the stallion market at an introductory fee of $22,000 (inc GST).
The classy son of I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) was unbeaten as a juvenile and became the first Australian two-year-old Group 1 winner for his champion sire when landing the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) at Randwick last year.
Vinrock also became the first horse in 44 years to complete the VRC Sires’ Produce (Gr 2, 1400m) and ATC Sires double, winning the former by two lengths over subsequent stakes winner Brave Design (Brave Smash) and the latter by 0.3 lengths over Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj) colt State Visit.
Bred by Rosemont Stud, Vinrock was purchased by his trainer Matt Laurie and Wilannah Park Bloodstock for $300,000 at the 2024 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, and Laurie knew he had talent from the outset.
“He’s a class horse, we knew he was tough right from the beginning, and he showed so much natural talent,” the trainer said following Vinrock’s Group 1 success.
“He was unbeaten as a two-year-old, and he’s a hell of a type, so he’s going to be very well-received when he gets to stud.”
In five starts as a three-year-old, Vinrock landed the Exford Plate (Listed, 1400m) at Flemington while also producing fourth-place efforts in both the Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) and McNeil Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m). His final outing came when sixth behind Jimmysstar (Per Incanto) in the CF Orr Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) on November 15.
Vinrock will offer breeders an opportunity to access an Australian Group 1-winning son of I Am Invincible – a profile shared by only three other sons currently at stud: proven sires Brazen Beau and Hellbent, and Home Affairs, whose son Guest House won Saturday’s Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m).
This news comes after a weekend where I Am Invincible has shown himself a talented sire of sires and Yulong’s chief operating officer, Sam Fairgray, said the horse possessed all the ingredients breeders seek in a young stallion.
He is the best of three winners out of the Matriarch Stakes (Gr 2, 2000m) winner Girl Gone Rockin’ (Redoute’s Choice), herself a half-sister to Group 3 winner Syreon (Flying Spur), the pair being out of the Group 2-winning mare Sorrento (Just A Dancer).
Yulong’s chief operating officer, Sam Fairgray, said Vinrock possessed all the ingredients breeders seek in a young stallion.
“Vinrock is an exceptional colt. Elite performances at two, an outstanding page, and a real physical presence,” he said.
“To win both the VRC and ATC Sires’ Produce races in the same season is so rare and speaks volumes about his class, toughness, and natural ability.
“He’s a son of I Am Invincible, and from a high-quality Redoute’s Choice mare, like Zoustar, Anamoe and Super Seth, which gives him a pedigree that will really resonate with breeders, and we’re excited to welcome him to the farm.”
Vinrock joins a quality, ever-growing stallion roster at Yulong, headed by ever-present stalwart Written Tycoon (Iglesia) and Group 1 sires Alabama Express (Redoute’s Choice) and Grunt (O’Reilly).