VORKUTA GETS HOME BY A FAST DIMINISHING MARGIN

By Graham Potter | Friday, January 23, 2026

Vorkuta kept the Tony and Maddysen Sears stable scoreboard moving when he prevailed in a pressurised finish at double figure odds ($13) in a Class 1 Plate over 1400m on his home turf at the Gold Coast on January 23.

The lightly raced grey, four-year-old jumped well and then was gradually eased forward into the lead by Brandon Lerena, who was on his third winner for the Sears Team for the week.

Vorkuta was then allowed to run the race to his own advantage enjoying an untroubled lead all the way to the home turn.

Vorkuta’s lead was two lengths on straightening with the balance of the field bunched up behind that … then it was out to three lengths with 250m left to run.

By the 100m Vorkuta looked to have the race safely within his keeping, but the final stages was not an easy watch for the connections of Vorkuta as a number of runners flew up late, most notably Fireforce (the $4 second favourite) who got to within a close-up 0.11 lengths of Vorkuta on the line with a driving finish that did everything but peg back Vorkuta.

In the end, Vorkuta got home by a very narrow and fast diminishing margin.

Vorkuta is now two-time winner from ten starts, showing a positive trending form-line with his last three race results presenting the perfect countdown … third, second and then first place.

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