Two-year-old colt Maya Bay made every post a winner at his career debut over 1000 metres at Toowoomba on Sunday to ring up winner number four for Vinery Stud’s Headwater and to make it a family affair, Maya Bay’s half-brother Rangas Rule broke his maiden two races later.
Sent off a well-supported second favourite under Michael Cahill, Maya Bay held the challenge of the Hidden Dragon filly Dragon Miss by three-quarter of a length with the favoured Spirit Of Boom colt Count The Coin a further four and a quarter lengths back in third.
A two-time veteran of the sales ring, Maya Bay made $12,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale before Pinhook Bloodstock (FBAA)/Tony Sears Racing shelled out $55,000 for him out of the Nolen Racing draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YOs In Training Sale.
Both Maya Bay and Ranga’s Rule (Pluck) are trained by Tony and Maddysen Sears and become the first two winners from three to race out of the lightly raced Testa Rossa mare Commitment who hails from the family of Group 1 New Zealand Oaks winner Miss Mossman (Mossman) and Group 1 AJC Australian Derby winner Ivory’s Irish (Best Western).
Vinery Stud’s Group II Silver Slipper Stakes winner Headwater (Exceed And Excel) has been well-supported by breeders in his first four seasons and should be popular again in 2020 with his fee reduced to $13,750.