Headwater Colt Makes a Statement at His Career Debut

Mark Smith - Wednesday July 22

With all sire titles all but decided for season 2019-20 the focus is on the first season sire battle for number of winners, which is going right down to the wire.

That was impressive Hydro Star wins on debut (Pat Scala/Racing Photos)

Vinery Stud’s Headwater has made a dramatic late season run at the title. The son of Exceed And Excel took his tally of winners in Australia to 12 on Wednesday when the John McArdle-trained colt Hydro Star made a statement at his career debut when powering home from near the tail of the field  in the Ladbrokes Back Yourself Hcp (1000m) at Sandown-Hillside.

Ridden by Jamie Mott for Mornington based trainer John McArdle, Hydro Star was a step slow from the barriers. Mott was content to settle him back at the rear of the field although he was obliged to race very wide.

Advertisement

Still in last place on the turn home, Hydro Star lengthened impressively when asked the question in the straight to defeat the royally-bred Snitzel filly Diamondesque by two lengths with another Snowden-trained daughter of Snitzel Miss Bosetti a long-neck back in third.

Listen below to the high regard the stable holds the handsome bay in.

Carrying the familiar orange and green quarters of the O’Brien family’s Lauriston Thoroughbreds Farm, Hydro Star was purchased for just $15,000 from the draft of Holbrook Stud at the 2019 Inglis classic Yearling Sale.

A ha

lf-brother to the very talented Cogliere (Pluck), Hydro Sar is the fourth winner from five to race out of the Delago Brom mare Final Star who is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Palace Glow (Palace Music) who is the dam of the Group III winner and Group 1 south Australia Derby runner-up Red Colossus (Testa Rossa) and the Group III VRC Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes winner Nediym’s Glow (General Nediym).

Hydro Star was a $15,000 Inglis Classic Yearling

Final Star died earlier this year, however she has two more to run for her, a colt by Wandjina that was sold at the 2019 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale for $8,000 and a weanling colt by Nicconi.

Headwater's total of 12 winners is one behind the long-time leader Spill The Beans while the Champion first season sire elect Pride Of Dubai is on 11 winners.  

Advertisment

Race Result - Ladbrokes Back Yourself Hcp 1000m

Sandown-Hillside Track: Soft(7) Time: 0:59.49
1
Hydro Star
- 2c Headwater (AUS) x Final Star (AUS) (Delago Brom (AUS))
Tnr: John McArdle Rdr: J Mott 57.5
2
2.0
Diamondesque
- 2f Snitzel (AUS) x Asscher (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: D Moor 57.5
3
2.4
Miss Bosetti
- 2f Snitzel (AUS) x Miss Iguacu (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Craig Williams 57.5
4
2.8
Aquagirl
- 2f Headwater (AUS) x Galapagos Girl (AUS) (Dehere (USA))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: Ben Thompson 58.5
5
3.0
Sunflare
- 2f Written Tycoon (AUS) x Deloraine (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: J F Moloney Rdr: D Oliver 56.5
6
4.2
Deep Mirror
- 2f Deep Field (AUS) x Mira Chavali (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: S P Nichols Rdr: Jye McNeil 56
7
4.3
Piscatorial
- 2f Zebedee (GB) x Gemmas Joy (AUS) (Fasliyev (USA))
Tnr: Joshua Julius Rdr: Melissa Julius 56.5
8
7.3
Claptone
- 2g Outreach (AUS) x Sherbet Bomb (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: K L Corstens Rdr: Liam Riordan 56
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Wednesday June 4
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Stakes Performed Zousain Filly Too Good At Doomben
Third in the Listed Calaway Stakes two starts back, lightly raced two-year-old Zousain filly Sweet Pretender produced the goods at Doomben, charging late to win the Mullins Lawyers QTIS Two-Year-Old Maiden Plate (1350m).
Written By Filly Dominates Warwick Farm Juvenile Contest
First seen at the two-year-old trials back in September, Marc Conners’ chestnut filly Penpel (Written By) produce a quality effort at just her second racetrack appearance, racing clear at Warwick Farm to score by more than three lengths.
Pride of Jenni to Visit I Am Invincible - Match Made in Heaven
Three-time Champion Sire I Am Invincible has been confirmed as the first mating for reigning Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year Pride Of Jenni, who will head to the breeding barn this season following a phenomenal racing career.
Wootton Bassett 2YOs on the March
Wootton Bassett’s star Northern Hemisphere two year-old Albert Einstein has been ruled out of Royal Ascot with a sprained joint that will require a few weeks off, but the red hot sire added two more talented debut winning juvenile colts at The Curragh overnight.
Blueblood Import - American-Bred Jillaroo Records First Win
Purchased at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by Ciaron Maher, the now 4yo mare Jillaroo (USA) (Curlin) initially started her racing career in the United States but after an Australian debut second at Caulfield in early May, recorded her maiden victory at Doomben.
Third Stakes Success For Justify’s Spicy Martini
A winner of four from six, three at stakes level highlighted by the reschedule Group 3 Fred Best Classic (1350m), the Toby Edmonds & Stephen McLean trained Spicy Martini (Justify) will now head to the Group 1 Stradbroke with just 49.5kgs on her back – not bad for an $8,000 online yearling purchase!
$1500 Weanling Becomes $525,000 Top Lot at MM National Yearling Finale
A colt by Harry Angel set a new benchmark in Australia for his sire and topped the final day of the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale when selling for $525,000 to conclude a hugely successful two weeks of sales.
Second Winner For Ghaiyyath As Observer Scores By Five
Second on debut when just three parts of a length off the winner at Pakenham, the James Cummings’ trained Observer (Ghaiyyath) looked sensational as he made a mess of his rivals to score over 1400m in the Tile Importer Handicap on the Sandown Lakeside course.
Frosty Girl impressive on debut
The Chris Waller-trained Frosty Girl made the perfect start to her career when coming from last to land the Asahi Super Dry Plate (1300m) on debut at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.