Gratz Vella Racing

14/01/2026

Today we head to Randwick to race on the Kensington track with just the one runner.

Race 7 - 5:50 - GOOD PRIZE Coriah Keatings

Good Prize heads here today hard fit and out to the 1800m. This son of Prized Icon has had a luckless campaign this time in, with good tracks and heavy weights, and outside barriers. Whilst the barrier gods were unkind to him again today, the soft track will be to his liking, and he reunites here with Coriah today after them both sharing some good luck last preparation. He is capable of letting his presence be felt here, should everything fall into place for him and go his way. He is due for a chamge of luck.

Good luck to all connections and happy racing 🧡🖤

09/01/2026

🧡🖤

Canberra-based trainer Gratz Vella isn't afraid of travelling to find a winner.

Closing in on 500 career victories, and enjoying a profitable 12 months that has yielded 34 wins, Vella was at it again at Parkes on Friday, with Prophet Time in the winner's circle.

Today, the stable has two good chances at Queanbeyan.

He’ll travel far and wide for a race, and rarely does Canberra trainer Gratz Vella leave somewhere without a winner or two.

09/01/2026

Today we head to Queanbeyan with two runners for the day.

Race 1 - 2:30 - HARD GRUNT Jess Brooks
Race 5 - 5:09 - CRUCIAL WITNESS Caitlin Sinclair

HARD GRUNT comes here attempting to break his maiden after a few eye catching runs since joining the stable. He comes in lightly after the claim and has drawn wide which shouldn't be too much of an issue in a small field.
CRUCIAL WITNESS (pictured) is second up here after a break, and put in a great run on return. She finds an easier race here today, retains Caitlin, over her favourite distance and is a good chance to notch up another win.

Good luck to all connections and happy racing. 🧡🖤

09/01/2026

PROPHET TIME 🧡🖤

🤩 Winners are Grinners 🤩

09/01/2026

PROPHET TIME saluting at Parkes 🧡🖤

09/01/2026

Prophet Time lived up to her name, delivering more prophets to her faithful supporters in what has been a stellar campaign for the mare, also providing us our first winner of 2026!

Settling off the pace she delivered a blistering turn of foot to reel in the leaders, to win by just over a length for Coriah. A patient, well timed ride proving the winning factor here today. Aided by a good strap by Hanna, who looked after our girls very well today in the heat. Hanna and Prophet Time have forged a lovely bond, which we are sure definitely aided her chances here today!

Prophet Time is a 6 year old mare by Nostradamus who has now banked over 100k in prize money for her very loyal, wonderful owners.

A big thank you to Coriah for an expert ride, our staff working tirelessly to keep our horses happy, our riders that come in every morning, our connections and stable supporters. Let's keep the luck rolling into Queanbeyan tomorrow!

08/01/2026

Today we head to parked with two runners for the day.

Race 3 - 12:57 - WE SHALL OVERCOME Coriah Keatings
Race 5 - 2:02 - PROPHET TIME Coriah Keatings

We Shall Overcome comes here off a last start 4th placing. Before that she broke her maiden in a dominant showing by 6 lengths at Cowra. She has drawn well and is weighted well for Coriah here today, and is a good chance of notching up another win here today as she steps out to the 1400m for the first time.
Prophet time comes here off a last start 4th also. She has drawn well and weighted well for Coriah here today. She is a mare racing in and maintaining good form and is a good chance to go on with it today also.

Good luck to all connections and happy racing 🧡🖤

04/01/2026

Today we head to Moruya with 3 runners for the day.

Race 6 - 4:30 - MAJOR TIME Caitlin Sinclair
-VELLA FOX Pierre Boudvillain
Race 8 - 5:50 - WONDERFUL MISTAKE Louise Day

Major Time (pictured) resumes here after a spell. He's drawn wide, but does usually enjoy racing fresh. Caitlin's claim has him down in the weights which he will appreciate.
Vella fox has been running good races without winning. Should his luck change today, he'll be a force to be reckoned with.
Wonderful Mistake comes here after a good 5th at canberra last start. Although she ran 5th, she was beaten 3/4 of a length! She has drawn very well and finds a winnable race here.

Good luck to all connections and happy racing! 🧡🖤

01/01/2026

We're hoping to kick off the new year with a winner from our first runner for 2026!

Today we head off to Gundagai with just the one runner.

Race 2 - 2:10 - DEEPLY Pierre Boudvillain

This Cool Aza Beel Filly resumed from a spell at Queanbeyan with an eye catching 2nd placing over the 1000m a fortnight ago. The extra 180m today will benefit her greatly, she's drawn in the middle and down in the weights, hopefully she can get that maiden out of the way today!

Good luck to all our connections and happy racing! 🧡🖤

30/12/2025

As 2025 draws to a close, we reflect on a great year we've had here at Gratz Vella Racing.

2025 was reasonably kind to us, with plenty of winners. It bought us two doubles in a week, two dead heat finishes in a week, horses on winning streaks and who could forget our goat having her own write up in an article.

These are just some highlights from 2025.

We saw our resident grey Teylu really come into his own this year, stamping himself as a very consistent galloper, currently on a 3 win streak!
Stable star Good Prize notched up 4 wins in a row, managing to win at the provincials and in Sydney, recording 6 wins from 8 starts at one point too!
Vella's Best reigned supreme in the Black Mountain race at Canberra, and notched up other wins since returning from a long let off.
Everyone's favourite dude Chop The Ice recoded back to back wins before he went out for a break, and is currently looking to make 2026 his year!
Crucial Witness managed to earn herself horse of the year at Queanbeyan! No easy feat for an 8 year old mare who just resumed back from a spell and looks to have another good campaign in store.
Azzucca, Wonderful Mistake and Nefradite have stamped themselves as horses to follow going forward, both recently breaking their maidens.
Prophet Time has recorded a string of wins and placings this campaign, the mare in good form.
Music Time started his racing career this year with an eye catching 2nd placing.
Vella Fox notched up a few wins as did his half sister Sutton Vella.

These are just some of the great results we've had in 2025 and we are very proud of all of our horses over this past year. At one point this year we managed to have 12 winners from our last 50 starters, and a further 14 or 15 of those last 50 had finished 2nd or 3rd. A great result for our little stable! We'd like to thank our staff, riders, jockeys, and everyone who plays a part here for all their hard work and dedication throughout the year too.

As 2025 comes to a close, and 2026 approaches we would like to wish all our connections, stable supporters, and everyone who keeps our stable running a very safe, happy and prosperous new year. May 2026, the year of the horse none the less, be the best year yet. We look forward to sharing success again in 2026 with you all.

From Gratz and all of us here at Gratz Vella Racing, Happy New Year 🎆🥂

30/12/2025

Nefradite after her dominant win at Sapphire Coast yesterday. 🧡🖤

29/12/2025

Nefradite breaks through at start number 4 today.

This Ilovethiscity filly has been a model of consistency her whole career, yet to finish out of the places in all her starts to date..

Given a 10/10 ride by Caitlin Sinclair, Nefradite settled back and showed a good turn of foot to reel in the leaders and win eased down on the line.

Congratulations to our connections, staff and stable supporters. And big thank you to Caitlin, for not only a perfect ride, but all the hard work she puts in each morning with our horses, her efforts don't go unnoticed and it's a pleasure to be able to reward her with a win.