Vinery Stud’s Headwater moved to within one win of tying long-time leader Spill The Beans for leading first season sire for number of winners when the filly Stormborn got the Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig partnership off to a flyer when successful in a 1000m maiden on the synthetic track at Pakenham on Friday.
Placed in two of her three previous starts at Flemington and Moonee Valley, Stormborn was sent off the short-priced favourite under Daniel Stackhouse.
Caught three wide facing the breeze for the trip, Stormborn did not shirk her task in the straight to run down a stubborn Kick It Baby by three-quarters of a length with Licciardi (Street Boss) a further one and a quarter lengths back in third.
With the departure of David Hayes to Hong Kong, son Ben and nephew Tom Dabernig remain the driving force behind Lindsay Park.
Stor
mborn made her career debut at Flemington on New Years Day where she clocked in a close third behind Night Of Thunder who would capture the Group III Blue Diamond Preview at Caufield at her following start.
Consigned by Holbrook Thoroughbreds to the 2019 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, the daughter of Headwater left the ring unsold when failing to make her $80,000 reserve.
She is the first foal of the 3-time Sydney winning Shamardal (USA) mare Quick’s The Word who was acquired at the 2012 Magic Millions National racehorse Sale for $64,000.
Quick’s The Word’s dam Lady Of Snows (Bluebird) is a multiple Sydney winning daughter of the Group II VRC Maribyrnong Stakes and Group II VATC Debutante Stakes winner Catchfire (Century) who is a half-sister to the dam of stakes-winner Ride The Rapids (River Rough) who is the dam of Group 1 Oakleigh Plate winner River Dove who in turn is the dam of non-other than Headwater.
Stormborn takes Headwater’s tally of winners to 11 and is his sixth winner in the past three weeks.
