3 minute read

Colt provides Headwater with red-letter day.

Vinery Stud first-season sire Headwater (Exceed And Excel) enjoyed a breakthrough result on Saturday as his son Wisdom Of Water (2 c ex Regal Tier by Royal Academy) took out the Ken Russell Memorial Classic (Gr 3, 1200m) at the Gold Coast. 

In winning the race the colt affirmed Aquis Farm's faith in the son of the young Vinery Stud stallion after the operation purchased a 50 per cent share in the colt earlier in the week. 

The Toby and Trent Edmonds-trained two-year-old surged two and three quarter lengths clear to beat Tick Tock Boom (Spirit Of Boom) and Superare (Exceed And Excel), who dead-heated for second.

Toby Edmonds said the colt would now head to the JJ Atkins Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 6. 

"He has had the two runs now and he should be cherry-ripe for the Atkins," Edmonds said.

"I suppose the question is whether he will run a strong 1400 metres around Eagle Farm in the Atkins.

"There wasn't much tempo in this race on paper and we elected to go forward. He rocketed out of the barriers and had to lead.

"I am sure if something else wants to lead he can take a sit on the pace."

Purchased by Blandford Bloodstock for $70,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the colt is one of three winners out of Regal Tier (Royal Academy), who is herself out of Tiercette (Tierce) - whose nine foals to race have all been winners, including Listed scorer Tierqualo (Sequalo). 

Tiercette is also the dam of Zedatier (Zedative) who in turn produced Listed scorer Flamboyer (Clang).

The year after producing Wisdom Of Water, Regal Tier missed to Eureka Stud-based stallion Spirit Of Boom (Sequalo) and has most recently been covered by his barnmate Encryption (Lonhro) having produced another colt by Headwater last August. 

Headwater has sired four winners in total and he will stand for a fee of $13,750 (inc GST).