Dovetail Diva has wasted no time getting back into the winning groove after spending most of this year on the sidelines.
The Headwater mare ended her last campaign back in January when fifth the Magic Millions Millions 3YO Guineas (RL, 1400m) and she kicked-off this prep with an on-pace victory in the Mount Franklin Hcp (1200m) at Doomben on Friday.
Dovetail Diva is a stable favourite with Esprit Racing partners John Symons and Sheila Laxon. “We expected her to be a little suspect first-up through fitness but the big girl’s class prevailed,” Symons said.
“She hit the line a treat and once again it’s onwards and upwards to the Magic Millions carnival.” There are a couple of options at the Gold Coast on January 14 including the $1million Magic Millions Fillies & Mares (1300m).
Dovetail Diva (4m Headwater – Moodlighting by Mossman) is a homebred for Gerry Harvey and sold for $60,000 through the Baramul Stud draft at the 2020 Magic Millions 2YO Sale.
Her younger half-brother Tuff Tu Mus (All Too Hard) is working up to a debut for trainer David Vandyke and he’s been entered for the $2million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) in January. Their Sydney-winning second-dam Sun Chariot (Desert King) is a half-sister to Group 1 Hong Kong Derby hero Super Satin (Danehill Dancer)
The Hong Kong connection continues when the first of Headwater’s 12 lots parades at the Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale on Tuesday, January 10. The colt from Kiss For Gran (Lot 30) is being offered by Alexia Fraser Bloodstock and he’s a close relation of Mighty Stride (Rich Enuff) who made it two-from-two in the Falvelon Hcp (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Headwater made an impact at the major yearling sales in 2022 with a 100% clearance rate at an average of $101,000. One of the value buys was the Baramul filly from Asset Rain (Lot 1556) that made $35,000 at the Magic Millions National Sale.
That price-tag looked an even bigger bargain when her older half-sister Hold The Press (Press Statement) won the Levin Stakes (LR, 1200m) at Otaki last month. The Headwater filly was purchased by Catheryne Bruggeman and Paul Moroney Bloodstock (as agent) for NZ South Island trainer Paul Harris and he’s been overwhelmed with her early progress.
“I like Headwater and I loved her at the National Sale,” Harris recalled. “We brought her across and she was broken-in and had a jump-out before a break. She came back into work earlier this week and is developing into a stunning filly.
“I will take her along slowly this prep and she can come back in the autumn. There has been movement in her family and there will be interest if she warrants a start in one of those nice 2yo races later in the season at Riccarton. I guess she’s for sale if the money’s right but I’m confident she’s going to mature into a (Group 1) 1000 Guineas filly next year.”
That’s not just idle talk for a filly with genuine classic connections. Her dam Asset Rain (Encosta De Lago) is a three-quarter sister to the dam of NZ 1000 Guineas winner Hasahalo (Savabeel) and Harris won a NZ 2000 Guineas with Hussler (Al Akbar) who had been a $12,500 buy for Bruggeman and Moroney.
