Barnstorming Win by Headwall in the Warra

Mark Smith - Saturday November 23

The super-consistent Headwall reaped a just reward in the $300,000 Group III Snap Print Solutions Wollongong The Warra (1000m) at Kembla Grange.

Advertisement

Ridden by Blake Spriggs for Matthew Smith, the 6-year-old son of Dream Ahead (USA) came with a sweeping run from the tail of the field to defeat the Mikki Isle 6-year-old Dragonstone by a half-length with the Capitalist 4-year-old Hedged the same distance back in third.

Huge win for Blake Spriggs (image Steve Hart)

The 1000m specialist advances his record to six wins, three seconds, and three thirds from 13 starts with earnings of $415,200.

“It was a big effort to come from where he was,” Smith said.

“The track is firming up and the weight was a big advantage for him.

“He is a nice horse, a 1000m specialist. This is the race we targeted.”

A homebred for Mr R Young, J & A Adam, B & N der Sarkissian, and J Marsden, Headwall is the best of three winners from as many to race for the Not A Single Doubt mare Positive Quest.

A winner of two races at Newcastle. Positive Quest is a daughter of the stakes-placed Quest For Fame (GB) mare Quest for Success, a half-sister to the Listed AJC Hall Mark Stakes winner Wasted Emotions.

Winners are the hallmark of this family. All of Quest For Success’s ten foals to race were winners and all four foals to race by her dam Emotional Moment (Salieri) were winners.

Positive Quest has an unraced 2-year-old Flying Artie filly named Flying Sarki, a yearling colt by North Pacific, and foaled an Artorius filly on October 9. 

Dream Ahead

Advertisment

Race Result - Snap Print Solutions Wollongong The Warra Gr3 1000m

Kembla Grange Track: Good(3) Time: 0:55.92
1
Headwall
- 5g Dream Ahead (USA) x Positive Quest (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: B Spriggs 53
2
0.5
Dragonstone
- 6g Mikki Isle (JPN) x Quick's The Word (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: A Hyeronimus 59
3
1
Hedged
- 4g Capitalist (AUS) x Acing Shamrock (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: C Schofield 55
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $140,000
Seller: Yulong, Nagambie, Vic
Buyer: Mick Price Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd/Roll The Dice Racing/Rogers Bloodstock
4
1.5
Fleetwood
- 4g Encryption (AUS) x Jennifer Juniper (AUS) (Time Thief (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: K Mc Evoy 53
5
3
Brudenell
- 5g Russian Revolution (AUS) x Knit 'n' Purl (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: Tommy Berry 57
6
3.4
Frilled
- 5m Star Witness (AUS) x Frill Seeking (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: J R Collett 54
7
3.6
South Of India
- 4g Churchill (IRE) x Minnesota (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: Ross McConville Rdr: J Ford 53
8
4.4
Iowna Merc
- 5g Winning Rupert (AUS) x Mercedes (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Rachel King 53
9
6.4
Kote
- 5g Choisir (AUS) x Soffraaj (AUS) (Iffraaj (GB))
Tnr: Blake Ryan Rdr: Reece Jones 54
10
7.4
Vainstream
- 10g Bel Esprit (AUS) x Yasey San (AUS) (Yasey (JPN))
Tnr: Geoffrey Crothers Rdr: Ms B Panya 54
11
8.9
Quick Tempo
- 6g Rubick (AUS) x Tawfiq Valley (AUS) (Purrealist (AUS))
Tnr: M S Minervini Rdr: A Adkins 53
More Reading...
G1 Placed Lavalier Tops Inglis Digital for Godolphin
The fourth most successful Inglis Digital auction in history tonight concluded with 15 lots realising $100,000 or more, leading to a gross in excess of $7m.
Farnan Filly Impresses at Kembla
Selected as a foundation sire for Kia Ora Stud, Golden Slipper winner Farnan has provided a dream start for the Hunter Valley farm with a slew of smart winners from his first crop this season including Commanding Belle, who became his 11th winner on Thursday.
Exciting Aussie 3YO Awarded Champion HK Griffin
The title of Champion HK Griffin is one not bestowed lightly on a talented three year-old with two of the past three winners being Champion Sprinters Ka Ying Rising (NZ) and Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) and the exciting winner for 2024/2025 was announced last night at the final meeting of the season at Happy Valley.
Another Aussie Stakes-Winner for Lope de Vega
It’s just as well Australian owners are keen on bringing in imported tried horses to Australia or the $200,000 Listed Grafton Cup (2350m) on Thursday would have looked a very skinny event, but as it happened there was a promising young stayer on top in Don Diego de Vega (Fr).
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this 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 next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
No Rush with Savaglee
Star colt Savaglee is likely to be a notable absentee from all spring feature events.
Unbeaten Filly a New Stakes-Winner for Ghaiyyath
Darley shuttler Ghaiyyath (IRE) is not returning to Australia this year after four seasons at Darley Victoria, but he was in the news overnight with a new stakes-winner after his unbeaten three year-old filly Al Uqda won the Listed Vichy Prix Madame Jean Couturie (2000m).
Sires With Winners - Wednesday July 16
Here is the full list of 52 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Smart Winner for Hanseatic
Rosemont Stud’s Hanseatic added a fourth winner to his tally on Thursday at Kembla when the John Thompson trained gelding Sea Admiral opened his account.
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 17
Here is the full list of 40 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.