Vrontios Heroic In Winter Stakes

LOCALLY-bred chaser Vrontios has become the star of the Tassie staying ranks, completing a hattrick of victories when producing a brilliant come-from-behind performance to win Monday night's CUB Winter Stakes Final (720m) at Launceston.

Exiting box three as the $2.70 second favourite, the Kevin McConnon-trained galloper missed the start badly before finding his fair share of trouble where he was shuffled back towards the tail-end while Surf The Artic flew the lids to lead into the first turn.

Passing the judges box with a lap to travel, Vrontios covered ground and sighted the leaders eight lengths as they headed out of the straight, where the race was looking to change hands with Wynburn Lucifer applying the pressure on Surf The Artic as she continued her stance.

Receiving a dream rails run coming off the back, Vrontios drove through as the joint leaders came together, giving the son of Lochinvar Marlow and Tiu Jet a chance to apply the after burners and charge away in the home straight to by 3 ½ lengths from Wynburn Lucifer in 42.82.

"I'm very happy, not bad for a dog that's just over three-years-old," Kevin McConnon stated.

"The dog is in the best form of his career and he didn't win the race easily after missing the start, he definitely had to work to earn it and he is hitting the line very strong now, the dog just loves to race – I also bred him which makes it special.

"I decided to give him a crack on the mainland and I sent him up to New South Wales and he just wouldn't settle in and they couldn't keep weight on him and fretting so we decided to bring him home," McConnon told.

Dam Tiu Jet (Collision x Tiu Lid) was purchased from New South Wales-bases breeder Craige Ward.

"I bred both of Tiu Jet's litters and they've all won races, she was a handy bitch in her racing career winning 13 of her 81 starts and this bloke (Vrontios) has been good to me along with his brother Demon Lad who has won quiet a few races," Kevin added.

Vrontios has a record of five wins from ten starts over 720m, starting his winning run three starts ago claiming the Sky Racing Distance Championship by 5.75 lengths before going onto claim a free for all prelude of the Winter Stakes last Monday night over Metanoia Franko.

The back chaser has won twelve of his 60 career outings, with 19 minors and $28,425 in prizemoney.

"I can't fault the dog, he's racing at his best which is what you'd like to see, I'll look to head up to Devonport next week and give both him and his brother Demon Lad a run up there. Vrontios will have a freshen up and will go back to Launceston for the National Distance heats."

The state heats of the National Sprint & Distance will be conducted in Launceston on Thursday, August 2, with the State representatives decided a week later on August 9.