breednet.com.au

Headwater 2YO Wins Black Opal Preview

Tara Madgwick - Friday February 23

There was a short-priced favourite in the $50,000 Canberra Black Opal Preview (1000m) on Friday, but Capitalist colt Amazing Eagle came up short when beaten by the local home town hero Vella’s Best.

Trained at the track by Gratz Vella, Vella’s Best was considered a long shot making his debut, but scored a half length win booking his spot in the $200,000 Group III Canberra Black Opal Stakes (1200m) on March 10.

 

A $40,000 Inglis Classic purchase from Vinery Stud for his trainer, Headwater gelding Vella’s Best is the fifth winner from six to race from Here de Joy, an unraced half-sister to stakes-winner Zoometric and to the dams of Discreet and Hijack Hussy.

Vella's Best was a bargain $40,000 Inglis Classic purchase.

Here de Joy is now in foal to another Vinery Stud based son of Exceed and Excel in Exceedance.

 

Advertisment

Race Result - ETS Refrigeration & Airconditioning Black Opal Preview 1000m

Canberra Track: Soft(6) Time: 0:58.05
1
Vella's Best
- 2g Headwater (AUS) x Here De Joy (AUS) (Dehere (USA))
Tnr: G P Vella Rdr: Damon Budler 56.5
2
0.4
Amazing Eagle
- 2c Capitalist (AUS) x Taliqua (AUS) (Charge Forward (AUS))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: Tyler Schiller 56.5
3
2.2
Shezain
- 2f Zousain (AUS) x Positive Problems (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: K R Dryden Rdr: J Innes Jnr 54.5
4
2.6
Art's Alive
- 2f Snitzel (AUS) x Novel Dancer (AUS) (Written Tycoon (AUS))
Tnr: Brad Widdup Rdr: A Adkins 54.5
5
3.3
Dupli Kate
- 2f Star Turn (AUS) x Atom Eve (AUS) (I Am Invincible (AUS))
Tnr: N F Gardner Rdr: Ms J Taylor 54.5
6
3.9
Magical Moments
- 2f Winning Rupert (AUS) x Magical Charge (AUS) (Magic Albert (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Ms K Nisbet 54.5
7
4
Beer Baron
- 2c Cosmic Force (AUS) x Ice Cold Crownie (AUS) (Beautiful Crown (USA))
Tnr: N J Osborne Rdr: Billy Owen 57
8
5.4
Enter The Dragon
- 2c Capitalist (AUS) x Princess Joy Joy (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: L P Beuzelin 56.5
9
8.1
Winning Statement
- 2f Press Statement (AUS) x Bondini (AUS) (Bernardini (USA))
Tnr: John Thompson Rdr: Brock Ryan 54.5
10
10.4
Phoroneus
- 2g Omaha Beach (USA) x Chrysopelia (AUS) (Rhythm (USA))
Tnr: B Joseph & P & M Jones Rdr: Q Krogh 56.5
11
11.5
Spirit In The Dark
- 2f Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Flash In The Dark (AUS) (Northern Meteor (AUS))
Tnr: K R Dryden Rdr: Jack Martin 55
12
14.8
Loch Erin
- 2f Pariah (AUS) x Maritimo (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Dale Rdr: D R Beasley 54.5
More Reading...
A Private Ruling Victory for Breeder
At this time of the year, racing related taxation releases from the ATO or relevant court decisions tend to be hard to find.
G2 Next for Cambridge Stud's Frostfair
Frostfair will be given her first tilt at stakes level later this month after she recorded her third successive win at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day in the Barfoot & Thompson 1400.
G1 Target for Super Seth 3YO
A Group One target is in the offing for exciting three-year-old Poetic Champion following his victory in the TAB 1200 at Ellerslie on New Year's Day.
One to Watch – New Year’s Day
There was an overload of racing right around the country on New Year’s Day and rightly so given our national interest in horse racing as a sport to be enjoyed over the holiday break and there was a winner that did catch my eye, but until now have not had a chance to put my thoughts into a story.
James Harron Bloodstock and Tony Fung Investments Join Forces for 2025 Sales
The yearling buying groups who have collectively purchased as yearlings the likes of future stallions such as Capitalist, Farnan, King’s Legacy, Prague and Anders today announce that they will be joining forces for their purchasing at the major yearling sales in 2025.
Bourbon Empress a Great Result for Highline Thoroughbreds
The emergence of Bourbon Empress has gone a long way toward confirming a future plan for Highline Thoroughbreds.
Deep Field Does it Again with a New HK Stakes-Winner
Now pensioned Deep Field is well on his way to a fourth consecutive Champion HK Sire title and added a new stakes-winner to his tally at Sha Tin on New Year’s Day when Howdeepisyourlove took out the Group III Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (1000m).
Zoustar Starts 2025 with New Stakes-Winner
Widden Stud’s Zoustar was the leading sire of winners in the world for 2024 with a final tally of 295 including 22 stakes-winners and he’s wasted no time getting on the board for 2025 with his talented son Patch of Theta scoring a dominant win in the Group III Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin on New Year’s Day.
Vale, Hayasugi
A brilliant winner of the 2024 Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes, top class three year-old filly Hayasugi is sadly no longer with us with her trainer Clinton McDonald announcing the tragic news of her passing on Thursday.
Cressfield Magic Opportunities
Hunter Valley nursery Cressfield is a name synonymous with elite female pedigrees and Group I performers with their current star flagbearer a filly purchased from their draft at Magic Millions in 2022 for a modest $140,000.