Fresh from blitzing the Adelaide carnival, Price – Kent Racing turned the focus closer to home on Tuesday with freewheeling winner Inundation at Mornington
Their newest star to appear over the horizon is a son of Vinery sire Headwater and he spaced the Asset Painting Services Maiden (1000m) by three and a half lengths. Jockey Jye McNeil sat motionless apart from a dig out of an inside draw and a squeeze at the top of the straight.
Inundation (3g Headwater – Flippity Lass by Dream Ahead) arrived at the Cranbourne stables of Mick Price and Michael Kent jnr earlier this season after two hollow trial wins in New Zealand.
McNeil was standing-in for Jamie Kah and was suitably impressed with the winner who had been runner-up on debut at Kilmore in January. “It was very easy from my end, I kept it pretty simple,” he said. “Maturity-wise, it feels as though there’s a lot of improvement in him.
“He still carries himself with lots of nervous energy. He’s talented and has the speed and potential to go to a lot higher level.”
“Mick and Michael thought that he might be a little bit awkward around a tight-turning course like Mornington because he’s such a big-actioned horse but when you’re travelling on the bridle, it makes it a lot easier.”
Inundation was bred in Queensland by Peter Marshall at Staghurst Stud and was purchased by NZ-based Byerley Park trainer Jenna Mahoney for $30,000 at the Magic Millions 2YO Sale in November 2020.
Following those barrier trial wins at Te Rapa and Avondale, he was purchased for clients of Price – Kent Racing and stable spokesman Ben Elan said the owners will be having a lot of fun with Inundation.
“We gave him time to develop after that first-up run at Kilmore and today will be a confidence-booster. Mick and Michael will look for a Saturday race and hopefully he will keep stepping up to better grades.”
The Mornington result didn’t surprise Jenna Mahoney who watched the win from Auckland. “I like Headwater and I liked him and the pedigree at the Gold Coast 2YO Sale.”
“I put him on the market for Hong Kong after the Te Rapa trial but there’s wasn’t much interest. Then the phone kept ringing after Avondale and I did a good deal through Phil Cataldo for the sale to Australia.”
Inundation is the first foal of Flippity Lass who is from a three-quarter sister to Group 1 winning Northern Meteor mare Cosmic Endeavour (Canterbury Stakes & Tattersall’s Tiara). Other Group 1 winners in the family are Hong Kong hero Fairy King Prawn (Danehill) and successful stallion Easy Rocking (Barathea).
Headwater has sired six winners this week and his Adelaide 2yo filly Aitch Two Oh added a Group 3 placing to a previous Listed victory when she finished third to the Price-Kent trained colt Maximillius in the David Coles Stakes at Morphettville last Saturday.
Vinery stands Headwater for a $16,500 (inc GST) service fee. He was Australia’s Leading First-Season Sire by winners in 2019-20 and Australia’s Leading Second-Season Sire by earnings in 2020-21. For bookings or further information, please contact Adam White (0414 800 918) or Harry Roach (0401 970 006).
