Vinery Stud’s Headwater has been a quiet achiever in the race for the number of two-year winners. When Furrina led at every call to break her maiden over 1100m at Bendigo on Sunday, she became the eighth two-year-old winner of the season for Headwater, equalling the leader Too Darn Hot (GB) and one ahead of Snitzel.
Ridden by Neil Farley for Tom Dabernig Furrina kept up a strong gallop to deny the fas-finishing debutant Too Darn Discreet, coincidently a daughter of Too Darn Hot (GB), with the $950,000 Snitzel colt Fitzpatrick back in third.
A homebred for Echo Beach Bloodstock and Brian Singer, Furrina was making her second start after failing to beat a runner home on a heavy track at Geelong on April 2.
“The track played a large part, but I think it was a case of a filly with the ability getting things wrong under the pressure of race day,” assistant trainer Dara O’Meachair said.
“We took her back to the jumpouts, and she had a positive experience there, plus a couple of gear changes, which she appreciated and a beautiful surface. She had them all under pressure on the corner and it was a solid result as she did it at both ends.
“We thought we may be able to take a sit and teach her a bit, but she has good natural speed.
“It’s great for Alan Green and Brian Singer, who are terrific supporters of the stable, so I hope they have a nice filly here.”
Furrina is the third winner from five runners for the talented Bel Esprit mare Afleet Esprit, whose five wins were highlighted by the Group II MRC Thousand Guineas Prelude and Listed VRC Cap D'Antibes Stakes.
Afleet Esprit has a yearling Trapeze Artist colt, which failed to make his $40,000 reserve at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
