Headwater sired the first-leg of a rapid-fire international double when High Pressure won a support race at the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes meeting in Perth on Saturday.
Less than a hour after the $100,000 Road To Ascot Regional Championship Final (1200m), the Vinery Stud sire’s Singapore expat Stop The Water motored home, on the same time-zone, in the Pennywise Maiden Stakes (1200m) at Kranji.
The successful start to December followed a flood of 30 individual Headwater winners in October – November and trainer Brett Drury was stunned after High Pressure finished powerfully to score by a half-length from Cable Boy (Oratorio) and Elite Fighter (Fighting Sun).
“He was three-deep without cover all the way and I thought he was cooked coming to the turn,” Drury said. “Full credit to Brandon (Louis). He rang me this morning and told me to tell the boys to have more on today.
“I was worried about the (wide) barrier but Brandon reckoned that didn’t matter! This horse has had seven starts this prep for three wins plus four placings and we haven’t got to the bottom of him yet.”
High Pressure is from the second crop by Headwater out of Playgroundprincess (Royal Academy) and that cross has a 100% strike-rate headed by Wisdom Of Water (Ken Russell Memorial Classic Gr.3, 1200m).
In Singapore, lightweight local Rozlan Nazam is odds-on to win this year’s Singapore apprentice title after booting Stop The Water to a convincing victory at Kranji. He followed riding instructions to the letter only letting the Headwater gelding loose when balanced in the straight.
Stop The Water was racing second-up in Singapore for trainer Steven Burridge. He had been shipped off-shore unraced in July following a close second in a trial the previous month at Hawkesbury. “He was bit too rushed at his first start here so I reserved as much energy as possible.” Nazam said. “I gave him a slap on the shoulder at the 400m and he went on from there.”
Headwater sired the talented 3yo from Absolvent (Encosta De Lago) and that cross has an 83% strike-rate. His dam was bred by Kingstar Farm and she’s a half-sister to Krupt (STC Todman Stakes Gr.2) and Anevay (VRC Talindert Stakes LR).
There are 11 Headwater yearlings entered for the Gold Coast Magic Millions commencing on Tuesday, January 9 and first to parade is the filly from Red Ransom mare Adelie (Lot 400). Offered by Cressfield, she is a half-sister to Tannenburg (Russian Revolution) who won second time out at Canterbury last month.
Trained by Chris Waller, Tannenburg holds an entry into the $3million Magic Millions 3yo Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast on January 13.
The Headwater – That’s Amore colt (Lot 1430) is from a More Than Ready (USA) mare with a perfect record from five to the races including last week’s Sandown Hillside winner Call The Union (Shamus Award).
Lot 1462 is a Headwater – Wicked (Bernardini) colt on account of the Alma Vale / Kitchwin Hills Partnership. He’s the first foal of a half-sister to Zoutenant (Zizou) who won the 2014 Wyong Magic Millions 2yo Classic (RL, 1100m) for trainer Kevin Moses.