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...
First Foal for Hilal Delights Grangewilliam Stud
The first foal by Grangewilliam Stud’s Group Two winner and multiple Group One performer Hilal arrived on Thursday morning with a filly born out of the well-related No Nay Never mare La Frox.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for last season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end this season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Zoustar Entering the Zenith
The dictionary tells us Zenith is an astronomical term —describing the highest point in an arc travelled by a star, planet or another celestial body- and in the case of this story it’s planet Zoustar!
Extremely Good Week!
It’s been a memorable week for Star Thoroughbreds having sold their multiple Group winning mare Olentia for $2.6million and then the purple and white stars were back in the winner’s circle at Canterbury on Wednesday carried by 3YO Extreme Choice colt Estremo.
Wootton Bassett Set to Blast Out of Winter
Many people may have anticipated Wootton Bassett (GB) would have been our Champion Australian First Season Sire last season and while that didn’t quite eventuate, he did finish the season with a wealth of horses holding spring potential and several were in action at the trials this morning.
Sires With Winners - Thursday August 7
Here is the full list of 36 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First Godolphin Winner for Maher
Champion trainer Ciaron Maher saddled his first winner for Godolphin at Kembla on Thursday and he did it with a blue-blood colt by Too Darn Hot (GB).
Melbourne Cup on Radar for Sons and Lovers
Joseph O’Brien knows what it takes to win a Melbourne Cup and that was mentioned as a possible goal for progressive young stayer Sons and Lovers, who won the Group III Ballyroan Stakes (1m4f) at Leopardstown overnight.
Racing’s Night of Champions August 28
45 of the top horses in Australia will be recognised for outstanding performances during the 2024/2025 racing season at Racing’s Night of Champions.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday August 6
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.