Vincent's Back To His Best (February 14 2010)

Matamata trainer Peter McKay has his former top-line juvenile Vincent Mangano back to prime form for a crack at further stakes honours. The WS-bred son of No Excuse Needed was the inaugural winner of the Karaka Million and also landed the Murdoch Newell and Wellesley Stakes at Listed level during his two-year-old season.

His following classic year was a frustrating one for McKay with a virus contributing to the half-brother to Gr 2 Makybe Stakes winner Vigor and Gr 2 winning stablemate Joey Massino (both by O'Reilly) racing below his best. However, this term Vincent Mangano has stepped back up to the plate and at Te Rapa on Saturday he won for the third time during his current preparation.

"He's back to his best and they've got to know how to ride him - he's got a good turn of foot when he comes from the back," McKay said. Rider Chad Ormsby settled Vincent Mangano at the tail-end of the field and they came with a well-timed run down the outside of the track to win with authority. "Chad does as he's told and I said to follow Saheel up from the turn and kick past her," McKay said.

He purchased Vincent Mangano for $80,000 from WS's 2007 Premier Sale draft at Karaka and he has proved a gilt-edged investment with seven wins and more than $710,000 in the bank. His next appearance will be a Gr 3 date in the Darley Plate at Ellerslie on March 10.