Headwater Colt Opens Account at Sandown

Mark Smith - Wednesday March 3

Far from disgraced when sixth in the $500,000 Inglis Banner at Moonee Valley in October last year, the two-year-old Headwater colt Predetermined emerges from an 18-week hiatus to open his winning account over 1200m at Sandown-Lakeside on Wednesday.

Mission completed. Predetermined breaks his maiden under Jamie Kah (image (Pat Scala/Racing Photos)

Ridden by Jamie Kah for Leon and Troy Corstens, Predetermined led at every call to defeat Godolphin's first-starter Amegdul (Medaglia d'Oro) three-quarters of a length with the favourite Montana Flash (Star Turn) a further two and a quarter lengths back in third.

Amegdul chased hard for the length of the straight in an impressive career debut. A brother to Group 1 ATC Golden Rose Stakes winner Astern and a half-brother to triple Group 1 winner Alizee, Amegdul won't let the family down.

Stable representative Don Sutton said they came to the race with some confidence.

"It was a good effort from him. It wasn't the plan to lead, but he looked to be slightly over-doing it down the back, so Jamie elected to roll forward and let him flow," Sutton said.

"That's why you put these top jockeys on. They are very good at rating races, and she judged it to a tee.

"He is a horse that we always thought had a nice amount of ability.

Advertisement

"He was coming to the end of his prep at Moonee Valley. He has developed and furnished into a really nice colt.

"I'm not sure what Leon and Troy have planned for him. He knocked his maiden of here today. so I will leave it up to them to find a nice path for him."  

Predetermined is a 3-time veteran of the sales ring.

Predetermined as a yearling

Another successful pinkook for Kulani Park, Predetermined, was purchased for $30,000 as a weanling. He doubled that when purchased as a yearling by Baystone Farm, who then hit it out of the park at the 2020 Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale when Mark Pilkington Management purchased the son of Headwater for $200,000.

Bred by Vinery Stud, Predetermined is the second winner from as many to race out of the unraced Red Ransom (USA) mare Future Gains.

A half-sister to stakes-placed Reign Of Terror (More Than Ready) Future Gains has a yearling colt by Press Statement and was covered by Casino Prince last spring.  

Advertisment

Race Result - Ladbrokes Switch Hcp 1200m

Sandown-Lakeside Track: Good(4) Time: 1:13.27
1
Predetermined
- 2c Headwater (AUS) x Future Gains (AUS) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: L & T Corstens Rdr: Jamie Kah 58
2
0.8
Amegdul
- 2c Medaglia D'Oro (USA) x Essaouira (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: D Oliver 58
3
3.1
Montana Flash
- 2c Star Turn (AUS) x Dukemore (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Craig Williams 58.5
4
4.5
Tiz My Bay
- 2f Cable Bay (IRE) x Tiz My View (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: M J Walker 56
5
9.0
Dawn Hunter
- 2c Sebring (AUS) x Glenbawn Dame (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Jye McNeil 58
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Tuesday October 21
Here is the full list of 15 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First Win for $2.1million Magic Millions Sale-Topper
It was a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at Te Aroha on Wednesday when Avantaggia, the filly that topped the 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, broke through for her maiden win in the Donaghys Moxipor (1150m).
Inglis Digital - Darby Swoop on Amazing Eagle for $310,000
Scott Darby believes today’s Inglis Digital sale-topper Amazing Eagle (Capitalist) can continue along the same successful mould as the likes of former online Darby acquisitions Robusto, Caballus and Imperial Force and progress on to become a future racetrack star.
End Of An Era - 2025 G1 Cox Plate
“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still” - Franklin D Roosevelt.
2025 G1 Spring Champion – Pedigree Preview
A lot of attention is paid to the sprinting three year-old division and much less so to the stayers, but with $2million in prizemoney the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday has attracted a full field of 14 and all of them are on trial at the trip.
One To Watch – Belmont
We look far and wide to highlight Breednet’s ‘One To Watch’ and today’s winner of the first race at Belmont, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro, won in the manner of a horse with a nice future and in the process shone a spotlight on her sire who recorded his ninth winner so far this month.
NZB Ready to Run Breeze Ups Complete for 2025
The final day of NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups saw a further 202 two-year-olds gallop down the home straight at Te Rapa Racecourse.
G1 Champions Mile Next for Ceolwulf
Trainer Joe Pride will likely keep stable star Ceolwulf to a mile as he looks to round off his spring campaign with a first trip away.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 22
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Henry Longfellow Pedigree Gets an Update
Group I winning Dubawi stallion Henry Longfellow (IRE) is covering his first Australian book of mares at Rosemont Stud this spring and overnight in Ireland his two year-old sister-in-blood landed her first Group race win.