Craiglea Stud owner Stan Johnston had all the bases covered when Warhead sired his first winner on Saturday.

Johnston stands Warhead at his Kenilworth nursery in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.  The breakthrough came courtesy of Craiglea Cruz in the Kedron-Wavell Services Club Hcp (1000m) at Eagle Farm.

Stan and his wife Marilyn bred and race the winner in partnership with the rest of the Johnston family.  The gelding is fully QTIS qualified and earned $56,000 in prizemoney and bonuses.

Craiglea Cruz (2g Warhead – Craiglea Miss by Waterford Road) had been run down by Whiskey Allround twice at Eagle Farm in October but was always in command third time out.  He kept finding in the straight to defeat Shantung Boxer (Street Sense) and Choose A Saga (Regal Saga).

Warhead (Viscount) was runner-up to Forensics in the G2 Kindergarten Stakes at Warwick Farm before she won the 2007 Golden Slipper.  He was also fourth home in that year’s G2 Todman Slipper Stakes won by Meurice.

A $300,000 buy at the 2006 Inglis Easter yearling sale, Warhead is the only foal to race from Camena who was a G2 winner of the AJC Light Fingers Stakes and VATC Caulfield Sprint.

Warhead has 24 foals from his first crop and is available for a $2,200 (inc gst) fee.

– Karl Patterson