News

Group 1 Goals Ahead For Hawkes’ Colt

30th Jan 2016

Three-year-old Inglis Easter graduate Headwater (Exceed And Excel x River Dove) resumed with style today, taking out Flemington’s feature race, the Listed VRC Kensington Stakes over 1000m, ahead of a field of older horses.

The Team Hawkes-trained colt dropped in early behind the front-runners and travelled mid-field until the 200m where he began his assault on the leader and bounded up the straight to hit the line smoothly.

Incredibly impressive as a juvenile, Headwater won easily on debut and backed up with another dominant performance in the Silver Slipper, with co-trainer Wayne Hawkes confident the colt has plenty left to show ahead of his autumn campaign.

"He's by a Newmarket Handicap winner out of an Oakleigh Plate winner, and there'd be very few horses anywhere in the country with a fatter pedigree than that," said Hawkes.

"He's a Group 2-winning two-year-old, so he's got a berth next to the two Caulfield Guineas winners - All Too Hard and Press Statement,” Hawkes said.

The son of Champion sire Exceed And Excel may seek to emulate the feats of his parents this autumn, with jockey Dwayne Dunn commenting “He’ll be likely to step up to Group 1 company next start, it really felt like he’s matured and is on top of his game.”

“We have a really big opinion of him, and it’s terrific to see him step forward as he enters his autumn three-year-old season,” Dunn added.

Bred and sold by Cressfield Stud, Headwater was secured by his trainers for $500,000 from the 2014 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, and now races for a large syndicate led by Vinery Stud, which is where he is destined to stand following his racing career.

Also involved in ownership is Neil Werrett, co-owner of Black Caviar, and Rupert Legh, co-owner of fellow Easter graduate Chautauqua. Other owners are Kia-Ora Stud W S, Mr A D Paradice, Echo Beach Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Encompass Bloodstock, Mr B N Singer, Dr T Simon and Greenwich Stud Pty Ltd.

20 Lots by Exceed And Excel will be offered at Inglis Select Yearling Sales in 2016, including Lot 259, at the 2016 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, a Cressfield-bred grand-daughter of Hong Kong superstar Elegant Fashion.

A total of 580 world class yearlings will go under the hammer on 5, 6 and 7 April. CLICK HERE to access the catalogue online, or request a hard copy by emailing catalogue@inglis.com.au or call Inglis Sydney on +61 2 9399 7999