Best On Breeding

Mark Smith - Friday April 21

Catalogued to sell under the Mill Park banner at next month's Inglis Chairman's Sale, Mileva will contest Saturday's Group III RN Irwin Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville Parks in what could be her last hurrah for owner Michael Birchall and trainer Phillip Stokes.

It would be a popular win for the locals as the daughter of Headwater is not only owned and trained in South Australia, she was bred by Geoff and Chris Tucker of Little Hills Pastoral.

Mileva captures the Group III Monash Stakes (image Grant Courtney)

The family of Mileva traces back to one of the great South Australian families.

Mileva's seventh dam, Miss Pompilia, is a sister to the champion 2yo Pago Pago.

A son of the South Australian legend Matrice, Pago Pago won nine of his ten starts at two before selling to America. His wins included the Golden Slipper, VRC Sire' Produce Stakes, Merson Cooper Stakes and South Australian Bloodhorse Breeders' Stakes.

Pago Pago retired to Claiborne Farm in Kentucky and was later sold to Lasater Farm in Kentucky. He left a lasting legacy in his daughter Olmec the dam of Navajo Princess (Drone), who won sixteen races, including the Molly Pitcher Handicap.

Navajo Princess achieved renown as a broodmare by producing one of racing's undisputed champions, Dancing Brave, and the Prix Vermeille and Prix Diane heroine Jolypha.

Jolypha is the granddam of Westbury Stud's underappreciated stallion Redwood (High Chaparral).

Pago Pago was repatriated to Australia at age nineteen by Robert Homes a Court.

He stood for four seasons and defied the odds to sire a further 21 stakes-winners off small crops of foals.

Advertisement

Pago Pago's dam Pompilia was faithful to Matrice for twelve years.

The union produced another stakes winner, Lady Pompilia, and the multiple stakes-placed Tutuila, who placed in the VRC Newmarket and VATC One Thousand Guineas. Tutuila is the granddam of The AJC Doncaster Hcp and VATC One Thousand Guineas heroine, Magic Flute (Adraan).

Miss Pomilia did not reach the heights of her siblings on the track, winning twice and placing in thirteen of her 26 starts. She produced the SAJC Dermody stakes winner Johnnie's Luck. Still, a lot of the heavy lifting was done by her daughter Café Miss (Estaminet), the dam of Spring Champion Stakes winner Sakana (Rassendyll) and the Group III winner Rohatyn (Carnegie).

A $42,000 purchase for Dan Clarken and Oopie Macgillivray from Little Hills Pastoral draft at the 2019 Adelaide Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Mileva made nine starts for Clarken and MacGillivray before her purchase by Michael Birchall and transferring to Phillip Stokes.

Mileva has banked $622,760 from a record of seven wins, two seconds and three thirds from 21 starts.

Mileva one of the stars on offer at the Chairman's Sale on May 4 (image Grant Courtney)

The 5yo daughter of Headwater has a Group III to her credit in the MRC Sir John Monash Stakes, and Listed wins in the Alinghi Stakes, Manihi Classic and Kensington Stakes.

Little Hills purchased Mileva's dam Lady Einstein off Vinery for $30,000 at the 2017 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale when carrying the future 4-time stakes-winner.

A winner at Geelong and Cranbourne in a light career of five starts, Lady Einstein is a half-sister to the Group II MRC PB Lawrence Stakes winner Second Effort (Mossman) and the Group III MRC Heath Stakes winner Diamond Effort (Mossman).

Lady Einstein foaled a sister to Mileva last spring and was covered by Headwater again.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Fourth Stakes for Headwater's Mileva
There are few more likeable mares around than the Headwater 4yo Mileva, who earned a fourth stakes success when pulling the Group III Neds Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) out of the fire at Caulfield on Saturday.
Racing Australia Issue a Statement on Black Type
Racing Australia Chairman Rob Rorrison has released the following statement. 
First Win for $1million Jet
He was bought for $1million at Magic Millions with stallion potential in mind, but Zoustar three year-old Jet found the winner’s circle for the first time at Warwick Farm on Wednesday as a gelding.
Rebel Dane Magic Trio Highlight the Passing of Time
With a Golden Slipper winning Champion 2YO in Fireburn coming from just his second crop of foals, Rebel Dane was an under the radar sire that found fame in a rush, but as so often happens it takes a very long time for that achievement to follow into the sale ring.
Magic Fillies Set to Clash in $250,000 MM Debut
Another piece of the Magic Millions puzzle will fall into place at the Gold Coast on Friday night with the running of the $250,000 Magic Millions Debut 2YO Plate (1000m) that features three well bred fillies from major stables that have been impressive at the trials.
Vote for Your Favourite Foal of 2025
We thank everyone for their participation in this year’s Foal Gallery with an amazing selection of babies from all over Australia and New Zealand making it a real showcase for breeders big and small and the task of selecting just six for our audience to vote for is not an easy one.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday December 17
Here is the full list of 38 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Group One Goals for Headwater's Mileva
The family of the Phillip Stokes-trained mare Mileva has a rich history in the Listed Kensington Stakes, a race won by Mileva’s sire Headwater, while Headwater’s dam River Dove was second in 2003.
Pretty Powerful Continues Winning Run for Yes Yes Yes
The last foal of blue hen Pretty Penny, Pretty Powerful returned for a new campaign as a gelding at Warwick Farm on Wednesday and he made it a winning return.
Inglis Digital year concludes on a high - Two Mares Sell for $140,000
Two well-related mares stole the show in today’s Inglis Digital December (Late) Online Sale, selling for $140,000 each in the final auction of 2025.