Fourth Stakes for Headwater's Mileva

Mark Smith - Saturday July 9

There are few more likeable mares around than the Headwater 4yo Mileva, who earned a fourth stakes success when pulling the Group III Neds Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) out of the fire at Caulfield on Saturday.

She's a winner (image Grant Courtney)

Ridden by Daniel Moor for Phillip Stokes, Mileva speared between runners to defeat the 5yo Street Boss mare Bless Her by a short-head with the 5yo Brazen Beau gelding Sartorial Splendor a half-length back in third.

Purchased by Dan Clarken and Oopie Macgillivray for $42,000 from Little Hills Pastoral draft at the 2019 Adelaide Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Mileva advances her record to seven wins, a second, and two thirds from 15 starts with earnings of $543,635.

The daughter of Headwater made her first nine starts for Clarken and Macgillivray before being bought by South Australian owner and breeder Michael Birchall who transferred her to Stokes.

“It’s very satisfying – the team has done a great job with her, she spelled well and presented beautifully here today,” Stokes said.  

“Daniel Moor gave her a lovely ride. She’s OK in this going, but would not like to see anything heavier.

Advertisement

Mileva has the looks (image Grant Courtney)

“The 1200m of the Bletchingly Stakes is the question mark. She is proven at 1100m, but is a bit stronger, so we might have a throw at the stumps.”

Little Hills purchased Mileva’s dam Lady Einstein off Vinery for $30,000 at the 2017 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale when carrying the future 4-time stakes-winner.

A winner at Geelong and Cranbourne in a light career of five starts, Lady Einstein is a half-sister to the Group II MRC PB Lawrence Stakes winner Second Effort (Mossman) and the Group III MRC Heath Stakes winner Diamond Effort (Mossman).

Lady Einstein has a yearling colt by Showtime that was purchased by Andrew Bobbin for $100,000 out of the Little Hills Pastoral draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale

Lady Einstein was covered by Headwater again last spring.

Headwater

Advertisment

Race Result - Neds Sir John Monash Stakes Gr3 1100m

Caulfield Track: Soft(7) Time: 1:05.49
1
Mileva
- 4m Headwater (AUS) x Lady Einstein (AUS) (Magic Albert (AUS))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: D Moor 56.5
Headwater
2
0.1
Bless Her
- 5m Street Boss (USA) x Blessit (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: Clayton Douglas Rdr: D W Stackhouse 56.5
3
0.6
Sartorial Splendor
- 5g Brazen Beau (AUS) x Personal Ensign (AUS) (Rubiton (AUS))
Tnr: J D Sadler Rdr: J Mott 58.5
4
0.9
Outlaws Revenge
- 4g Reward For Effort (AUS) x Wings Of Alice (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: Ryan Balfour Rdr: Craig Williams 58.5
5
1.0
William Thomas
- 7g Nicconi (AUS) x Girls Rock (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: J W Price Rdr: Ethan Brown 58.5
6
1.7
Aysar
- 4h Deep Field (AUS) x Miss Interiors (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: B Mc Dougall 58.5
7
1.9
Oxley Road
- 4h Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Bonnie Mac (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: L Nolen 58.5
8
2.7
Felicia
- 5m Unencumbered (AUS) x Los Feliz (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: D Binaisse Rdr: Jye McNeil 56.5
9
4.4
Ashford Street
- 4g Moshe (AUS) x Magic By Gosh (AUS) (Magic Albert (AUS))
Tnr: K M Elford Rdr: Teodore Nugent 58.5
More Reading...
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Richard Johnston has bred some very good horses under his Bylong Park banner including triple Group I winner Think It Over and an Anders three year-old he bred and races was an eye-catching debut winner at Hawkesbury on Thursday.
Group One Goals for Headwater's Mileva
The family of the Phillip Stokes-trained mare Mileva has a rich history in the Listed Kensington Stakes, a race won by Mileva’s sire Headwater, while Headwater’s dam River Dove was second in 2003.
Invincible Filly Snares $100,000 Inglis Bonus
The least expensive filly by champion sire I Am Invincible sold at Inglis Easter in 2024, Wear the Crown always looked to have been well bought at $260,000 by Seib/Racing / Champion Thoroughbreds and she set about repaying her purchase price at Goulburn on Thursday.
Wootton Bassett Colt Wins G2 Stutt Stakes
The racing and breeding world was shocked earlier this week by the passing of champion sire Wootton Bassett (GB), whose talented son West of Swindon picked the right race in which to break his maiden when scoring a bold front running victory in the $300,000 Group II MVRC Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Golden Rose Colts – Sires of the Future
The $1million Group I ATC Golden Rose (1400m) this Saturday offers the winner far more than prizemoney and assuming it’s a colt he is given a golden ticket to a commercial stud career, so let’s take a look at this year’s contenders, who would you want on your stallion roster in 2026?
30 Runners in Goffs Million!
The stage is set for Europe’s richest two-year-old race, the Goffs Million (7f), which has attracted a maximum field of 30 runners at the Curragh this Saturday and the €1 million contest, with prize money down to 10th, is only open to graduates of last year’s Goffs Orby Sale.
Best On Breeding
Catalogued to sell under the Mill Park banner at next month's Inglis Chairman's Sale, Mileva will contest Saturday's Group III RN Irwin Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville Parks in what could be her last hurrah for owner Michael Birchall and trainer Phillip Stokes.
€1.9million Sale-Topping Colt Wins G3 Somerville Stakes
The Group III Somerville Stakes (7f) was run at Newmarket overnight with the Godolphin blue carried by exciting Night of Thunder colt Distant Storm, who they purchased for a sale-topping €1.9million at the Arqana May Breeze Up Sale earlier this year.
Sires With Winners - Thursday September 25
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Ardrossan Filly Wins First Kiwi Juvenile Race of New Season
Otaki horseman Johno Benner has a good association with the Karaka Millions, and he could have another serious contender on his hands for January’s showpiece.