Headwater 3yo Starlight stole a winning break on his more fancied rivals for a black-type breakthrough in the Singapore Classic (Gr.2, 1400m) at Kranji on Sunday.
Stablemate Tiger Roar started an odds-on favourite but the Classic didn’t go according to script when Starlight and jockey Shafrizal Saleh got first run in the straight. They held on to give Vinery sire Headwater the fourth Stakes winner from his first two crops.
Trainer Michael Clements wasn’t taking anything away from the winner even after he just touched out Tiger Roar (Wandjina) who is likely to be named Singapore’s Champion 3YO. “We’ve always rated Starlight from the very beginning but he’s taken time to furnish into the horse he is today. He’s been behaving better in training since a spell and is a lot more settled and relaxed now.
“Shafrizal gave him a great ride, too,” Clements added. “They had the run of the race, stole a march and held on to the line. Tiger Roar got there too late but he still ran a great race.”
Starlight (3g Headwater – Zalila by Zabeel) has won three of his six starts for PSM Racing Stable after graduating from the 2019 Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale for $210,000. “I normally wouldn’t spend that much but I was keen on the Headwaters from the start,” Clements recalled. “He was physically impressive, the way he moved in the breeze-ups was powerful and his action in the parade was also very good.”
Starlight is the first Headwater to race in Singapore and assistant-trainer Michael White, who hails from Perth, rates him the best horse he’s had anything to do with since joining Clements.
His dam Zalila is a sister to Legible (Sandown Classic Gr.2) and second-dam Waihora’s Lass (Tights) won an Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes Gr.2 at Pukekohe.
Headwater currently holds a $280,000 lead over Pride Of Dubai for the Australian second-season sires’ premiership in 2020-21. He shared the Australian freshman winners’ title with Spill The Beans last season.
Headwater is a Group-winning son of Exceed And Excel and stands at Vinery for a $16,500 (inc GST) service fee with payment on a live foal. For bookings or further information, please contact Adam White (0414 800 918) or Harry Roach (0401 970 006).
