Vinery Stud’s first season stallion Headwater chalked up his second winner when the Dan Clarken-trained debutant Mileva led every step of the way over 1000 metres at Murray Bridge on Saturday to provide a timely update for her Nicconi half-brother heading to the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Sent off favourite on the strength of an impressive win in a barrier trial at the same track on January 2, Mileva travelled strongly in the lead under Anna Jordsjo and was given a kind ride in the straight to defeat the Akeed Mofeed filly Jyoti by a half-neck with the Nicconi filly Baraconi a further two and a quarter lengths back in third.
“About four months ago Dan (Clarken) came up to me and said would you mind jumping on a two-year-old you might want to stick with it and I’ve ridden her nearly every day since. So I was pretty confident coming here today,” Jordsjo said
“She wants to get it over and done with, she’s got a high cruising speed and does it quite comfortable so I thought I would nurse her along for as long as I could and to be honest she does everything herself. She hears the competition coming and changes gears, she knows exactly what’s she’s doing.”
Purchased by Oopy MacGillivray for $42,000 out of the Little Hills Pastoral draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, Mileva is the first foal of the winning Magic Albert mare Lady Einstein who is a half-sister to the Group II MRC PB Lawrence Stakes winner Second Effort (Mossman).
Lady Einstein’s second foal, a colt by Nicconi, will be offered by Erinvale Thoroughbreds at the upcoming Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
After missing to Impending in 2018, Lady Einstein was covered by Showtime last spring.
Silver Slipper Stakes winner Headwater (Exceed And Excel) has a powerful 21-strong entry for the Inglis Classic and 6 lots catalogued for the Melbourne Premier.