Harness racing’s latest millionaire

Vultan Tin became the third West Australian bred horse to crack a million dollars in stake money after adding a further $19,200 to his kitty on Saturday night, claiming his third success in harness racing’s Group 3 Narrogin Cup for the Costello family.

Becoming just the third Westbred horse to reach these heights, Vultan Tin now joins the likes of Has The Answers ($1,326,581) and David Hercules ($1,263,159), with ‘Frank’ as he affectionately known around the stables and the industry now sitting at $1,016,084.

“Saturday night was more of a relief than anything. He’s a special horse for our whole family, so there was no doubt he wouldn’t let us down like always,” Daniel Costello said.

Having his 199^th start, the war horse lined up as the $1.18 favourite and from barrier three, old Frank and driver Mitchell Miller didn’t have to work too hard to get to the lead with Jocelyn Young on board Woodlea Ragnar looking for cover soon after release point.

Heading into the race, Vultan Tin was just $3,116 shy of his million-dollar target, and as long as he finished in the top two in the Group 3, was set to break through for this amazing feat.

Winning his first race in December of 2014, Vultan Tin has had a long and successful career, a testament to his strength and hardiness, with Frank now sitting on 31 wins, 30 seconds and 21 third placings from 199 starts.

“He’s always been special from the day he was born, there was just something about him,” said Denise Costello.

Born on the Costello farm in Coolup on the 25^th of September 2011, both Phil and Denise instantly knew that the then colt was going to be something special. By the stallion Dawn Ofa New Day USA, his service fee was roughly $1400 back in 2010 when Phil made the decision to put Ellevarrac in foal to him, with Vultan Tin her first and only foal to race.

Making his debut to racing on the 8^th of December 2014 as a three-year-old, he finished sixth in his first start, but just 12 days later broke through for his first win at Gloucester Park in 1:59:0 for the 2130m, at his third start.

Winning three races in his 3YO season, he went on to win a further four races as a 4YO and eventually taking out his first metropolitan staked race on Friday the 3^rd of February 2017, the same year he went on to contest the 2017 Inter Dominion Final, finishing fourth in the grand final and pocketing a further $66,000 for the Costello family.

“Phil always said he’s his Inter Dominion horse, always.”

Phil also confirmed that the win and cracking the $1,000,000 was a relief more than anything and is just glad the hype is now all over. Although the 10-year-old is just one start away from 200 races, Costello confirmed that he shows no sign of slowing down and will be heading back to Gloucester Park to contest the FFA races.

Vultan Tin’s feature races:

• Group 1 WA Pacing Cup: 2020 ($288,000 to the winner)
• Gr3 Narrogin Cup: 2017, 2021, 2022
• 2019 $50,000 City of Perth Cup
• 4^th in the 2017 Inter Dominion Grand Final ($66,000 in stakes for 4^th)
• 2017 $20,000 Italian Cup at Bunbury
• 2022 Gr2 Governors Cup
• 2021 Pinjarra Cup (Group 2)

By Ashleigh Paikos for RWWA