Vinery sire Headwater joined boom imported stallion Too Darn Hot (GB) at the top of the Australian 2YO winners’ table when his filly Furrina scored a front-running victory at Bendigo on Sunday.
Racing second-up for trainer Tom Dabernig, Furrina was always in control to win the Budget Car Rental Maiden 2YO Plate (1100m) in a slick 63.88s from Too Darn Discreet (Too Darn Hot) and Fitzpatrick (Snitzel). Headwater (Excel and Excel) and Darley freshman Too Darn Hot (Dubawi) lead the Australian 2yo ladder with 8 wins apiece from Snitzel (7 winners).
Furrina was well-supported on debut at Geelong earlier this month but didn’t fire on a Heavy 8. “She got it all wrong that day but the better going and a gear change made all the difference today,” assistant trainer Dara O’Meachair said. “She has lots of natural speed so we’ve been teaching her to relax and use it at both ends.”
Winning jockey Neil Farley said she had come on in leaps and bounds. “She bounced straight to the front and was super back on a firmer deck. She gave me a great feel and it’s amazing how much some horses can improve with the experience of their first day of the races.
“She gave me a lovely kick and I think she’s got a bright future.”
Furrina was bred by Vinery partner Alan Green (Echo Beach Bloodstock) and Brian Singer from their black-type mare Afleet Esprit (Bel Esprit) who had won the 2014 MRC Thousand Guineas Prelude (Gr.2, 1400m) and VRC Cap D’Antibes Stakes (LR, 1100m).
Afleet Esprit was prepared by David Hayes before Dabernig came on board as co-trainer for the second-half of her career. The mare had already foaled the winners Clymene (All Too Hard) and Merchant Prince (Written Tycoon) before Furrina and went back to All Too Hard in October.
Headwater’s 2yo division is headed by last-start SAJC Without Fear Stakes (LR, 1050m) winner Pure Aqua and the Vinery sire has two fillies and a colt catalogued for the HTBA Yearling Sale at Riverside Stables this coming Sunday, April 28.
