Headwater was a clear winner among the 14 stallions with first-crop foals at the Inglis Easter Weanling Sale last week.
The Vinery sire’s colt from Manju (Henny Hughes), from the Bhima Stud draft, was knocked down to Andrew Williams Bloodstock for a freshman high of $75,000. “I’m pro Headwater as a stallion prospect,” Williams said. “The one I bought is a forward colt with a lovely action.
“I liked Headwater at the Vinery parades and his foals were some of the best I saw in the Hunter Valley last year.”
Manju is a half-sister to Redoute’s Choice stakes winners Ravi and Elzaam and she has a yearling filly by All Too Hard with Marc Connors.
Williams also bought Hawkesbury winner Sweet Chestnut (Congrats) in foal to Headwater off a maiden cover last year. Her dam Rock Me Baby won a Light Fingers Stakes Gr.2.
Headwater was bred to fly as a son of champion sire Exceed And Excel and Oakleigh Plate Gr.1 winner River Dove. He obliged in the Silver Slipper Stakes Gr.2 before going down less than two lengths in the Golden Slipper Gr.1.
Returning at three for Team Hawkes, he scored an outstanding victory against older horses in the LR Kensington Stakes (1000m) clocking 56.90s down the straight at Flemington.
Headwater sired 118 foals from his first book at Vinery and another 19 of them have been catalogued for the Magic Millions National Sale starting on May 24.
Group 1 winner Press Statement, who joined the Vinery roster with Headwater, has 21 first-crop foals on the Gold Coast.
Vendors were also pleased with the response to the first mares in foal to Vinery newcomer Star Turn at the Inglis Sale. His initial book included NZ-bred mare Miss Beals who was sold to Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) for $180,000.
Miss Beals (Savabeel) is a sister to Kiwi stakes winner Savour The Moment and is carrying a November positive to Star Turn. “Some sales just work out,” Mills said. “She’s an outstanding type and I’m super confident in the purchase.”
