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First for Headwater

3 minute read

Sire Headwater was handed his first winner when the Wisdom Of Water landed the Aquis Gold Nugget 2YO Handicap at the Gold Coast.

HEADWATER.
HEADWATER. Picture: Vinery

Vinery Stud first-season sire Headwater (Exceed And Excel) was handed his first winner on Saturday when the Toby and Trent Edmonds-trained Wisdom Of Water (2 c ex Regal Tier by Royal Academy) landed the Aquis Gold Nugget 2YO Handicap (1100m) at the Gold Coast. 

Having finished fourth on his first outing, the colt shot to the lead to come away with an impressive three-quarter length victory over Conceited (Brazen Beau). 

The colt will now return to the Gold Coast in seven days' time for a crack at the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m). 

Purchased by Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock for owner Mr Zhiqiang An for $70,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Eureka Stud draft, Wisdom Of Water is out of Regal Tier (Royal Academy), who is herself a half-sister to Teirqualo (Sequalo). 

This victory continues a great run of results for the owner adding to his double at Randwick on Boxing Day with Return With Honour (Fastnet Rock) - another Magic Millions Gold Coast purchase - winning the Headwater at Vinery 2YO Maiden Handicap (1100m), while the US-bred Quality Seeker (Quality Road), who Boman sourced at the Tattersalls Horses In Training Sale, landed the Quincy Seltzer Handicap (2400m). 

Quality Seeker was denied a second victory on Saturday when he was narrowly beaten over 2400 metres at Kensington Randwick. 

"It is a really exciting time for Mr An and he deserves the success he is having," said Boman, who manages Mr An's bloodstock. "He is very involved in the whole process from the selection at the sale to the day-to-day management and he is really deserving of this recent success. To have two really nice colts is also extremely pleasing. 

"All of our purchases go to Muskoka Farm post purchase where they are broken in and pre-trained. We manage the first stage of their career and allocate trainers as and when the horses are ready to go into work. 

"In the instance of Wisdom Of Water he was by far our most forward yearling and being QTIS and Magic Millions qualified we decided to send him to the Edmonds' with the aim of making it to the Magic Millions 2YO Classic."

Return With Honour, who is trained by Gerald Ryan, is also qualified for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic but will bypass the race in favour of a Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) target.

"Return With Honour also has made it into the Magic Millions, but we decided not to rush him in hope that Wisdom Of Water would make the race."

Boman admitted to feeling disappointed after the son of Headwater (Exceed And Excel) was beaten on his first start in Doomben in November after being sent off the red-hot favourite for the race following two eye-catching trials prior to his debut. 

"We have always thought a lot of this horse and when he was beaten as odd-on favourite on debut it was certainly very deflating. But it is great to see him put his talent to good use today and come out and win like he did," he said. 

"The best thing about today was that he would have learnt so much settling back in the field. His first start was hard on him and sometimes these races can leave their marks on the two-year-olds, but pleasingly he has clearly progressed from that run.

"We knew how talented he is but thought the Magic Millions was out of the picture, but credit to Toby and Trent they pressed forward with him. It is a tough ask to back-up but the last three horses to win the Classic have come on the same path - so it can be done."

Boman said he liked the horses attitude when he inspected him at the Magic Millions sale last year: "He always wanted to please and he showed that from the first day that I saw him, I like buying from Eureka they are very good breeders and their track record speaks for itself."

Headwater, who has stood his four season's at stud for a fee of $16,500 (inc GST), has had eight starters and will be represented at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale next week by six yearlings; three colts and three fillies. 

Toby and Trent Edmonds also sent out the winner of the fillies juvenile race on the Gold Coast, as Queen Kay (2 f Zoustar - Fantasy Gal by In Excessive Bull) broke her maiden at the first time of asking in the Aquis Gold Pearl 2YO Handicap (1000m).


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