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Headwater 2YO Wins Black Opal Preview

Tara Madgwick - Friday Feb 23

There was a short-priced favourite in the $50,000 Canberra Black Opal Preview (1000m) on Friday, but Capitalist colt Amazing Eagle came up short when beaten by the local home town hero Vella’s Best.

Trained at the track by Gratz Vella, Vella’s Best was considered a long shot making his debut, but scored a half length win booking his spot in the $200,000 Group III Canberra Black Opal Stakes (1200m) on March 10.

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A $40,000 Inglis Classic purchase from Vinery Stud for his trainer, Headwater gelding Vella’s Best is the fifth winner from six to race from Here de Joy, an unraced half-sister to stakes-winner Zoometric and to the dams of Discreet and Hijack Hussy.

Vella's Best was a bargain $40,000 Inglis Classic purchase.

Here de Joy is now in foal to another Vinery Stud based son of Exceed and Excel in Exceedance.

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Race Result - ETS Refrigeration & Airconditioning Black Opal Preview 1000m

Canberra Track: Soft(6) Time: 0:58.05
1
Vella's Best
- 2g Headwater (AUS) x Here De Joy (AUS) (Dehere (USA))
Tnr: G P Vella Rdr: Damon Budler 56.5
2
0.4
Amazing Eagle
- 2c Capitalist (AUS) x Taliqua (AUS) (Charge Forward (AUS))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: Tyler Schiller 56.5
3
2.2
Shezain
- 2f Zousain (AUS) x Positive Problems (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: K R Dryden Rdr: J Innes Jnr 54.5
4
2.6
Art's Alive
- 2f Snitzel (AUS) x Novel Dancer (AUS) (Written Tycoon (AUS))
Tnr: Brad Widdup Rdr: A Adkins 54.5
5
3.3
Dupli Kate
- 2f Star Turn (AUS) x Atom Eve (AUS) (I Am Invincible (AUS))
Tnr: N F Gardner Rdr: Ms J Taylor 54.5
6
3.9
Magical Moments
- 2f Winning Rupert (AUS) x Magical Charge (AUS) (Magic Albert (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Ms K Nisbet 54.5
7
4
Beer Baron
- 2c Cosmic Force (AUS) x Ice Cold Crownie (AUS) (Beautiful Crown (USA))
Tnr: N J Osborne Rdr: Billy Owen 57
8
5.4
Enter The Dragon
- 2c Capitalist (AUS) x Princess Joy Joy (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: L P Beuzelin 56.5
9
8.1
Winning Statement
- 2f Press Statement (AUS) x Bondini (AUS) (Bernardini (USA))
Tnr: John Thompson Rdr: Brock Ryan 54.5
10
10.4
Phoroneus
- 2g Omaha Beach (USA) x Chrysopelia (AUS) (Rhythm (USA))
Tnr: B Joseph & P & M Jones Rdr: Q Krogh 56.5
11
11.5
Spirit In The Dark
- 2f Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Flash In The Dark (AUS) (Northern Meteor (AUS))
Tnr: K R Dryden Rdr: Jack Martin 55
12
14.8
Loch Erin
- 2f Pariah (AUS) x Maritimo (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Dale Rdr: D R Beasley 54.5
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