Trainer encouraged to back bargain buy for the big time

Craig KerryAugust 27, 2026 — 10:34amHumble horseman Gratz Vella is taking confidence again from the backing of his peers about Music Time as he heads to the group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) on Saturday at Rosehill off one trial.Music Time, a $45,000 yearling buy for the Canberra trainer on behalf of long-time client Brian Corkhill, upstaged blueblood opposition from major stables last season to win his hometown feature, the group 3 Black Opal Stakes.Pierre Boudvillain salutes aboard Music Time after winning the Black Opal Stakes.Ava Kontogiannis/FOS MediaVella initially ruled out a Golden Slipper run but after receiving encouragement from other trainers that Music Time was up to the task, he advised connections to pay the $150,000 late entry fee.Music Time, which Vella said resembled a poddy calf at the sales, more than justified the decision, running third in the $5 million Golden Slipper to earn $425,000 and take his earnings to $605,000.The All Too Hard gelding, with three wins and two placings in five starts, returns on Saturday against a small but elite field including Slipper champion Guest House ($5) and group winners Blue Door ($2.10), Warwoven ($5.50), Revengeance ($8.50) and Berzelius ($31).Music Time, an $18 chance on Saturday with Kerrin McEvoy aboard, finished a close second to Revengeance at Randwick in his only trial and the feedback Vella received gave him belief for Saturday.Gratz Vella with Music Time.Gratz Vella Racing“I was talking to a few trainers there when I was parading him at the trials and they liked how he looked, so that gives me a bit more encouragement, that I’m doing something right. They were commenting how big and strong he looks,” said Vella, who has 17 horses in work.“The trial was super, and I thought, that’s good enough for an 1100m race.“It was a bit better than I expected, I didn’t think I had him that forward, but [jockey] Tommy Berry said he was very forward. Tommy was very happy with the way he settled, he said he could have had him anywhere, and he raced like a true racehorse.“He’s certainly a live chance. His work’s been good since that trial. He worked with one of my seasoned horses, Vella’s Best, on Tuesday morning and he matched strides with him.“I think he’s grown a fair bit. He’s still got a bit of growing to do. He’s still a bit higher in the back end than the wither, but he has developed a lot.”Vella hoped Music Time could measure up to the three-year-old spring features after moving away from a path to the $2 million Kosciuszko when finding out he would have to carry 60 kilograms in the country-only slot race.“Last season was something special. It’s all great thrills, so whatever happens, it’s been a good ride,” he said.“If he comes up, you never know, we could be in Melbourne in the spring. He could be in the Coolmore.“When I bought him, the owners gave me a budget of $100,000, and it was very hard to get one for anything because the horses were going pretty high.“For some reason, I had a look at him a couple of times. He sort of looked like a little poddy calf. I thought it might get close to $80,000 to get him, and for some reason they stopped at $45,000.“All Too Hard was having a good run with his horses as well, and the mare had a bit of pedigree in there, but I didn’t expect to get him at that price.”From our partners