breednet.com.au

Headwater 2YO Wins Black Opal Preview

Tara Madgwick - Friday February 23

There was a short-priced favourite in the $50,000 Canberra Black Opal Preview (1000m) on Friday, but Capitalist colt Amazing Eagle came up short when beaten by the local home town hero Vella’s Best.

Trained at the track by Gratz Vella, Vella’s Best was considered a long shot making his debut, but scored a half length win booking his spot in the $200,000 Group III Canberra Black Opal Stakes (1200m) on March 10.

Advertisement

A $40,000 Inglis Classic purchase from Vinery Stud for his trainer, Headwater gelding Vella’s Best is the fifth winner from six to race from Here de Joy, an unraced half-sister to stakes-winner Zoometric and to the dams of Discreet and Hijack Hussy.

Vella's Best was a bargain $40,000 Inglis Classic purchase.

Here de Joy is now in foal to another Vinery Stud based son of Exceed and Excel in Exceedance.

Advertisment

Race Result - ETS Refrigeration & Airconditioning Black Opal Preview 1000m

Canberra Track: Soft(6) Time: 0:58.05
1
Vella's Best
- 2g Headwater (AUS) x Here De Joy (AUS) (Dehere (USA))
Tnr: G P Vella Rdr: Damon Budler 56.5
2
0.4
Amazing Eagle
- 2c Capitalist (AUS) x Taliqua (AUS) (Charge Forward (AUS))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: Tyler Schiller 56.5
3
2.2
Shezain
- 2f Zousain (AUS) x Positive Problems (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: K R Dryden Rdr: J Innes Jnr 54.5
4
2.6
Art's Alive
- 2f Snitzel (AUS) x Novel Dancer (AUS) (Written Tycoon (AUS))
Tnr: Brad Widdup Rdr: A Adkins 54.5
5
3.3
Dupli Kate
- 2f Star Turn (AUS) x Atom Eve (AUS) (I Am Invincible (AUS))
Tnr: N F Gardner Rdr: Ms J Taylor 54.5
6
3.9
Magical Moments
- 2f Winning Rupert (AUS) x Magical Charge (AUS) (Magic Albert (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Ms K Nisbet 54.5
7
4
Beer Baron
- 2c Cosmic Force (AUS) x Ice Cold Crownie (AUS) (Beautiful Crown (USA))
Tnr: N J Osborne Rdr: Billy Owen 57
8
5.4
Enter The Dragon
- 2c Capitalist (AUS) x Princess Joy Joy (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: L P Beuzelin 56.5
9
8.1
Winning Statement
- 2f Press Statement (AUS) x Bondini (AUS) (Bernardini (USA))
Tnr: John Thompson Rdr: Brock Ryan 54.5
10
10.4
Phoroneus
- 2g Omaha Beach (USA) x Chrysopelia (AUS) (Rhythm (USA))
Tnr: B Joseph & P & M Jones Rdr: Q Krogh 56.5
11
11.5
Spirit In The Dark
- 2f Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Flash In The Dark (AUS) (Northern Meteor (AUS))
Tnr: K R Dryden Rdr: Jack Martin 55
12
14.8
Loch Erin
- 2f Pariah (AUS) x Maritimo (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Dale Rdr: D R Beasley 54.5
More Reading...
Winning Hat-Trick for Gold Standard 2YO
When an unheralded sire produces a Group I winner in their first crop as happened for Sebring stallion Gold Standard it can take a long time for the benefit of that early splash to take effect, but in his case the wait is nearly over and in the meantime Destiny’s Summit is a good reminder as to his merit.
Consecutive Black Type Victories For Snitzel Filly Bridal Waltz
Stepping up to open company is always a tough task, but 3yo Snitzel filly Bridal Waltz graduated from a last start Listed win over her own age to win the $200,000 Group 3 MRC Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Another G1 Triumph for Aga Khan Stud Bred Gelding
Aga Khan Studs don’t race a lot of geldings, but one that they do is Calandagan, who made it back to back G1 wins overnight when beating a select field in a tactical battle to win the Group I King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1m4f) at Ascot.
Hello Youmzain Filly Wins NZ Last Stakes Race of Season
Talented juvenile filly Platinum Diamond made all posts a winner when she captured her second consecutive stakes victory in the last black type feature of the 2024-2025 racing season, the Listed Phils Electrical & Gypsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.
Unbeaten Run Continues For Ole Kirk’s Daughter Ole Dancer
Successful in the Magic Millions SA 2YO Classic at Murray Bridge on debut back in March, the Peter Moody and Katherine Colemen trained filly Ole Dancer resumed at Sandown on Saturday, winning the Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap (1200m) to remain unbeaten.
One to Watch Wins Again in Saturday Class
The half-brother to Group II winner Stretan Angel, lightly raced three year-old Brutal gelding Glorious Moments was in a class of his own at Randwick on Saturday.
Season Finale Flourish for So You Think
Coolmore stalwart So You Think is powering to the end of the Australian racing season with a six winner flurry on Saturday highlighted by a winning treble at Randwick led by his progressive mare Oh Diamond Lil.
Two New SW's for Too Darn Hot
Too Darn Hot is set to be crowned Champion Australian Second Season Sire and is headed back to Darley Australia this spring at a fee of $275,000 and overnight he produced two new stakes-winners in the UK and Ireland.
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 26
Here is the full list of 86 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First SW For So You Think Stallion Tamasa As Cicala Takes Out Lightning
One of just three named foals by the So You Think stallion Tamasa, the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea trained 3yo filly Cicala remained unbeaten, going three from three by winning the $120,000 Listed SAJC Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville.