Headwater filly Heavenly Waters is back in the good books with trainer Roy Rogers after a front-running Belmont win on Thursday.
A proven black-type performer last season, she was a class above midweek company in the Schweppes Hcp (1000m) with new stable apprentice Maddy Cornick aboard for the first time. They jumped to a clear lead and pinched a three-length break at the top of the straight.
“Accidents can occur in a split-second and that’s what happened with Heavenly Waters last week,” Rogers winced while cradling a broken arm. “When I was leading her to the walker, she kicked out and my right arm caught the full brunt. They put it in a cast and I was called back to the hospital later to have it stabilised with a plate and screws.”
Heavenly Waters (3f Headwater – Serafina by Snitzel) was bred in partnership by Glastonbury Farm’s Duncan Grimley and her dam is a daughter of NZ-bred Mythical Play (Defensive Play) who was a multiple Group 1 winner in South Africa.
Rogers produced Heavenly Waters to win the Crystal Slipper Stakes (1100m) on debut at Ascot last November and she followed up with a close second to Ex Sport Man in the Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic RL at Pinjarra.
Staying in work for an extended autumn campaign, she finished sixth in the Gimcrack Stakes Gr.3 and fifth in the Karrakatta Plate Gr.2. “She was only 430kg when I brought her into work last season,” Rogers recalled. “But she’s tough and she’s got a motor.”
Vinery Champion Headwater has sired 25 individual winners this season and the Perth result followed those of Virtuous Miss (Brisbane) and Aquapishe (Melbourne) last week.
Virtuous Miss doubled up in the Bernborough Ascot Hcp (1000m) at Eagle Farm on Melbourne Cup Day on the back of a three-length victory in a Doomben maiden last month. That demolition job prompted Sky Racing’s Bernadette Cooper to label Headwater, “One of my favourite stallions at the moment.”
Trainer Kris Lees bought Virtuous Miss for $60,000 from Widden Stud (as agent) at the 2019 Inglis Classic Sale. Her dam Chaste (Lonhro) also won races at Doomben and Eagle Farm for Kelly Schweida.
Aquapishe scored first-up after a ten-month spell in the Monacellars Maiden (1000m) at Pakenham on Friday night. The Lloyd Kennewell-trained 3yo sat on the pace and won like an odds-on favourite should for Jordan Childs.
“That was a soft watch,” Lloyd’s father Gary Kennewell admitted. “He was a bit stiff at his first start at Moonee Valley earlier this year. He was beaten a head that night and we certainty expected him to win tonight.
“He was heavy in front so we had him gelded and spelled. He’s city-class and Lloyd will decide where he will go this season.”
Aquapishe was a $40,000 buy from Kitchwin Hills, as agent for Vinery’s Adam White, at the 2020 Adelaide Magic Millions and holds a nomination for the $2million Magic Millions 3yo Guineas (RL, 1400m) at the Gold Coast in January. He’s the final foal of Non Capishe (Zeditave) whose older half-sister Coincidental (Catbird) won a Nudgee Hcp LR at Eagle Farm.
Vinery stands Headwater for $16,500 (inc GST) with payment on live foal. For bookings or further information, please contact Adam White (0414 800 918) or Harry Roach (0401 970 006).
