Breeding & Racing Magazine

Vinery Freshman Heading in Promising Direction

The rapid rise of exciting Exceed and Excel sire-son Headwater with his first crop of 2YOs will be providing Vinery Stud with plenty to be excited about. Headwater’s $13,750 fee should have breeders lining up as the new breeding season approaches. Currently joint third on the First Crop Sires list by individual winners following Wednesday’s victory by Gunnamatta, Headwater’s eight juvenile winners to date include stakes-performers Be Water My Friend and Wisdom of Water; the latter won the Gr3 Ken Russell Memorial Handicap in a hand canter (see below) after finishing fourth in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic. Out of Gr1 Oakleigh Plate heroine River Dove from a superb family that includes Riverdene Stud’s 2020 freshman sire McLaren (bred on an identical cross), Headwater was a gun 2YO himself, winning the Gr2 Silver Slipper and placing in the Gr2 Todman Stakes. Training on as a 3YO where he again won at stakes-level, Headwater finished fourth in the Gr1 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley.