Canberra trainer Gratz Vella is set to continue a memorable season when he brings the consistent gelding Good Prize, his only runner for the day to Cootamundra for Sunday’s Cup meeting.
Vella has enjoyed one of the highlights of his long career this year after Music Time captured the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes at Canberra and then finished a strong third in the Group 1 Golden Slipper at Rosehill. The dual group-performing two-year-old delivered the veteran trainer his second Black Opal success (following You’re Canny in 2011) and a rare return to the world’s richest two-year-old race after a 20-year gap.
While Music Time has since been spelled, Vella will be represented at Cootamundra by the reliable five-year-old brown gelding Good Prize. The son of Prized Icon out of the Dubleo mare Double Good is expected to carry the top weight in the feature and has proven a solid performer throughout his career. Vella an astute breeder, bred this one himself and it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the gelding who proved interesting to handle as he got older.
Foaled on 18 September 2020, Good Prize is owned by Vella, Ms C Vella and V Krogh. He has recorded seven wins from more than 20 starts and accumulated approximately $160,000 in prizemoney. His most significant victory came on 21 May 2025 at Warwick Farm, where he won a Benchmark 72 Handicap over 1600 metres on a heavy track, collecting $28,400.
Good Prize has shown versatility across distances from 1200m to 1600m and has handled a range of conditions, with several of his wins coming on soft or heavy going. He has been a consistent earner for the Vella stable and arrives at Cootamundra with a solid record that underlines his reliability at this level.
Vella’s recent success with Music Time has highlighted the strength of his Canberra operation. Bringing a proven campaigner such as Good Prize to the 150th anniversary Cootamundra Cup meeting gives local racegoers the chance to see one of the region’s most experienced trainers in action with a horse that has already delivered multiple victories and steady prize money throughout its career.
The South West Slopes Times covers an area approximately the size of Fiji in country NSW. We look after a population of more than 50,000 people with our staff servicing 7 major towns and dozens of villages with our story telling footprint.
We offer weekly print editions at $3 a copy and we also offer digital subscriptions across 3 months $30, 6 months $60 and 12 months $120.
We are one of the last truly local independent family run newspaper businesses in the state.
Contact us today to find out how we can promote your business or organisation across our huge network by emailing ads@thetimes.net.au or by calling 0413 763 216.
If you have a news tip, lead or scoop for us please make contact as we love celebrating our communities. You can contribute articles via our South West Slopes Times website.
