Headwater will defend his unbeaten record in the 2015 Todman Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday and jockey Blake Shinn is excited to continue his association with the talented colt as he builds towards the 2015 Golden Slipper.
Headwater stamped himself as a clear favourite with a strong win in the 2015 Todman Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart
James Winks was aboard Headwater when he made his racing debut with a comfortable victory in the Cactus Imaging Plate (1000m) at Moonee Valley in December last year, but Shinn took the ride on the two-year-old when he stamped himself as the favourite for the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) by recording a dominant victory over Voilier and Mishani Honcho in the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on February 21.
Shinn told TVN that he was most impressed with the professionalism that Headwater showed during his Silver Slipper Stakes victory and he is confident that the son of Exceed And Excel can maintain his unbeaten record when he takes on the likes of Vancouver in the 2015 Todman Stakes this weekend.
“He did exactly what I asked and what the Hawkes stable asked,” Shinn said.
“He was very professional, he beat a very handy field and heading towards Saturday he couldn’t be in better shape.
“Michael said in the week that he is going very well and heading towards the Slipper I am very excited to be riding him.
“He is in the right stable, they know what it takes to educate their horses and get the best out of them.
“He is no different to most of the Hawkes stable, they are very well educated and professional, and he has all the attributes to be a top class racehorse.”
Headwater will face just four rivals in the 2015 Todman Stakes and he is currently a clear favourite in the betting market for the Group 2 event at a quote of $1.80 from Canonbury Stakes winner Vancouver ($3.40), Godolphin hopeful Furnaces ($4.60), Silver Slipper Stakes runner-up Voilier ($10) and Queensland hopeful Mishani Honcho.
Shinn is chasing his first win in the Silver Slipper Stakes after previously missing the placings with Scratch Me Lucky (sixth behind Ghibellines in 2014), Trophies (sixth behind Pierro in 2012), Intertidal (11th behind Masquerader in 2010) and Mr Profumo (fifth behind Krupt in 2008), while he is also after a maiden win in the Golden Slipper after previously having very little luck in the world’s richest two-year-old race.
