Sunshine Coast trainer David Vandyke waited for the right race to introduce his Headwater 3yo filly On Hold and she went ahead and dealt with a maiden field as expected on Sunday.
On Hold started in the red at her home track in the Chomley Family Law Hcp (1000m) and she hit the ground running before allowing Perovskaya (Russian Revolution) to push forward along rails. Stable jockey Ryan Maloney was content to camp outside the leader until they balanced up and promptly put the race to bed.
“She’s always shown us a lot and is a very exciting filly,” Vandyke declared. “That was the perfect start to her career but we’re not in a rush. She ran about in the straight and is still learning what it’s all about.
“We will give her a break after another run or two and then come back for a more ambitious program. She’s a beautiful filly and we have high hopes she can develop into a Stakes performer.”
On Hold is a homebred for former NSW TAB chairman Gary Pemberton and his family. They raced her older half-sister Hold The Line (Your Song) to five wins for earnings of $350,000 with Vandyke. She also earned black-type when runner-up in the 2020 Chief De Beers Hcp (LR, 1000m) at the Sunshine Coast.
Their dam Why’re You Waiting (More Than Ready) was trained by Gai Waterhouse to win a Kembla Grange maiden by six lengths in a career restricted to just five starts. The Headwater cross with Vinery legend More Than Ready (USA) has a 63% winning strike-rate.
Vandyke also reports his Headwater sprinter-miler Whitewater will be resuming from a spell in a couple of weeks. He was a last-to-first Eagle Farm winner in June and signed off a winter campaign with fourths in the Winx Guineas (Gr.3, 1600m) and Grafton Guineas (1600m).
Adelaide 3yo filly Aitch Two Oh is another Headwater back in work following a productive autumn prep for trainers Richard and Chantelle Jolly. She won the Without Fear Stakes (LR, 1050m) at Morphettville in May and bowed out with a placing in the David Coles Stakes (Gr.3, 1200m).
Aitch Two Oh wasn’t pushed out by Jake Toeroek when two lengths clear of Flemington winner Second Slip (NZ) in a Balaklava barrier trial on Monday morning.
Headwater’s top-flight division springs into action this weekend with Mileva in the Moir Stakes (Gr.1, 1000m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night and Jamaea in the Golden Pendant (Gr.2, 1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Vinery stands Headwater for a $16,500 (inc GST) service fee. For bookings or further information, please contact Adam White (0414 800 918) or Harry Roach (0401 970 006).
