Vinery Stud’s Headwater is poised to be Champion Australian Second Crop Sire by earnings and the Group II Silver Slipper winning son of Exceed and Excel added a new stakes-winner to his tally in Singapore on Sunday when three year-old gelding Starlight took out the Singapore 3YO Classic Sng G2 (1400m).
Trained by Michael Clements, Starlight scored a surprise win over his more fancied stablemate Tiger Roar, snatching a head victory in the second Leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge.
The Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic has traditionally been the prelude to the Singapore Guineas Sng G1 (1600m) in the last 10 years the three Legs of the Singapore Three-Year-Old were devised in that format, with the Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m) slated as the first Leg.
But with the Singapore Guineas cancelled this year (due to the COVID-19-induced changes brought to the racing calendar), it’s mission accomplished for Starlight, and Clements who also won the Sprint with Tiger Roar three weeks ago on June 27.
“It’s a bit of a surprise, but we’ve always rated Starlight from the very beginning, even if mentally and physically, he’s taken time to furnish into the horse he is today,” he said.
“He’s a horse who worries about a lot of things. He was too keen and overracing, but after he came off a break, he’s been behaving better in training.
“He is a lot more settled and relaxed now, and it’s all fallen into place for him today.
“Coming off the back, we could see how more relaxed he was, and Shafrizal gave him a great ride, too. They had the run of the race, stole a march and held on to the line.
“Simon Kok did everything he possibly could to win the race, but Tiger Roar got there too late. He still ran a great race.”
With three wins and two seconds from six starts, Starlight was a $210,000 Inglis Ready 2 Race purchase for M Clements / Bevan Smith Bloodstock from the Prima Park draft.
Starlight was bought originally by Waterford Bloodstock/Prima Park from the Erinvale Thoroughbreds draft at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale for $41,000, so proved a pinhooking success story.
Bred by Erinvale in partnership, Starlight is the best of five winners from Zabeel mare Zalila, a full sister to Group II winner Legible, the dam of Group II winner Trusting.
Starlight is the fourth stakes-winner for Headwater, who stands at Vinery Stud this spring at a fee of $16,500.
