Wisdom of Water relived his juvenile heydays at the Gold Coast on Saturday to claim an even richer scalp in the $1million Magic Millions QTIS Open (1300m) for owner Tony Fung.
The 4yo son of Vinery sire Headwater is a Gold Coast specialist having won three of his four starts at the Bundall circuit in 2020. His only defeat was a two-length fourth in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) won by Away Game but he followed up next prep with a Group 3 victory in the Ken Russell Memorial Classic (1200m).
Wisdom of Water lost form last season but the born-again sprinter returned for redemption with Annabel Neasham who took over his training this time last year. And he didn’t let her down with a dominant win under a superb ride by Rachel King.
“I’ve noticed a real change in his demeanour since we started taking him down to the beach at Newcastle,” Neasham said on Saturday. “He seems a really happy horse and it’s just a dream to win a race on this amazing card. He won pretty soft on the line and it’s a great result for the Fung family. They are great supporters of mine and this racecourse.”
Neasham and Tony Fung Investments purchased a $2.10million Exceed And Excel colt from Vinery at the 2021 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. Now named Nobel, he was placed on debut in the $400,000 Inglis Banner (RL, 1000m) at Moonee Valley in October.
Wisdom of Water (4h Headwater – Regal Tier by Royal Academy) was a $70,000 graduate of the 2019 Gold Coast Yearling Sale and has now earned $1,077,450. His younger brother Water Bomber ran fourth on debut in the VRC Maribyrnong Plate (Gr.3, 1000m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day and their dam foaled another Headwater colt in August.
Earlier on Saturday, Headwater filly Jamaea didn’t get much galloping room in the $2million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (RL, 1400m). Starting a well-supported $4.40 second-favourite, she was tightened for room at the start and then steadied when crowded by Construct at the 1000m.
Out wider in clear air, Me Me Lagarde (Star Turn) flew home into second spot with fellow Vinery-sired runners Far Too Easy (All Too Hard) and Dovetail Diva (Headwater) finishing fourth and fifth respectively in the Guineas.
Vinery sire Press Statement also benefited when his filly Sneaky Starter collected a $325,000 Racing Women’s Bonus in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m). Trained by Mick Mair for his wife Belinda and Bobbie Battershell, she received the lion’s share of the overall bonus allocated to the first four all-female owned horses to cross the line.
“It’s quite incredible. Sneaky Starter was a Book 2 filly and only cost us $15,000,” Mair recalled following her seventh-placed finish. “I’m laid up in hospital but cheered her home. I really liked her on type as a yearling and she’s been a goer since Day 1.”