The family of the Phillip Stokes-trained mare Mileva has a rich history in the Listed Kensington Stakes, a race won by Mileva’s sire Headwater, while Headwater’s dam River Dove was second in 2003.
With Ben Allen in the saddle, Mileva made Saturday’s $200,000 Flemington feature her own.
With the field coming down the centre of the track, Mileva struck the front at the 200m and was untroubled to defeat Parsifal (Darci Brahma) by a length with Halvorsen (Magnus) a short-half-head back in third.
Bred by Chris Tucker and Dr Geoff Tucker of Little Hills Pastoral Company, Mileva advances her record to six wins, a second, and two thirds from 12 starts with earnings of $409,185.
“Full credit to Ben, he gave her a lovely ride, summed it up beautifully and got her across to where we wanted to be,” Stokes said.
“I am very happy for Michael Birchall (owner) - he’s getting a big thrill out of this.
”The team at home have done a great job with this mare, she loves the space between runs.
“She’s a mad fresh horse and spends most of her time up at our farm. She just ticks over up there on the hill track and in the pool. We don’t jump her out between runs, she doesn’t need it, she’s very clean winded and that’s the key to her.
“We’ll keep her ticking over and look towards the Oakleigh Plate in February and then maybe onto a Robert Sangster.”
The winner of the Listed Manihi Classic at Morphettville in March and the Listed Alinghi Stakes at Caulfield in October, Mileva has been a star for the Vinery stallion Headwater.
A $42,000 purchase by Oopy MacGillivray out of the Little Hills Pastoral draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, Mileva is the first foal of the Magic Albert mare Lady Einstein.
Little Hills purchased Lady Einstein off Vinery for $30,000 at the 2017 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale when carrying the future 3-time stakes-winner.
A winner at Geelong and Cranbourne in a light career of five starts, Lady Einstein is a half-sister to the Group II MRC PB Lawrence Stakes winner Second Effort (Mossman) and the Group III MRC Heath Stakes winner Diamond Effort (Mossman).
Lady Einstein has a yearling colt by Showtime and was covered by Headwater again last spring.
Headwater has 11 lots catalogued for the Magic Millions and 19 at the Inglis Classic.
