Trainer Tony Newing has a feature race in mind for his Headwater colt Head Case following an impressive victory in a Grafton 2yo maiden on Sunday.

Head Case had put the writing on the wall with a placing at Doomben earlier this month and was backed into a short-priced favourite for the Yamba Golf Club Plate (1000m).  He jumped in front and sat in the running line outside Will It Snow (Super Seth) before going clear on his home track.

“I’m very happy with that win and the Wellington Boot will suit,” Newing said.  “He has a good profile for that race.  He likes to roll forward and I think he’s got a future.”

The $200,000 Wellington Boot (1100m) is scheduled for Sunday, April 14.  Vella’s Best is another country-based 2yo son of Headwater and he won the Black Opal Preview (1000m) in Canberra last month.

The Vinery resident sired Head Case from Still Cool (Lonhro) who is a three-quarter sister to the Sydney Group 2 winners Sessions (The Shorts) and Renaissance (Sapphire Stakes).  The family goes back to Champion Australian 3YO Filly Unworldly (Quest for Fame).

He was purchased for $40,000 out of the Goodwood Farm draft at the 2023 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale for a ladies partnership that includes Newing’s wife Stacey.  The same vendor sold another son of Headwater named North Of Eli to win a Grafton juvenile twelve months ago.

Newing transferred from Gosford to Grafton last year and is making the most of the bigger track with Head Case.  “We can gallop them in straight lines and that’s helped his education.  He looks like a 3yo but is still learning the craft.  We added the nose-roll today and he will need blinkers in time but he’s just too aggressive through the bridle for them now.”

Winning jockey Andrew Mallyon was also pleased with the performance.  “We didn’t get much peace in front but he kicked and put them away.  He’s a lovely colt and will be even better when he can focus and chase.”

Hoofnote: Star Turn filly Sonnet Star carried Vinery’s colours to victory in the 2021 edition of the Wellington Boot and she foaled a filly in October off a maiden cover to Exceedance.