Consistent sprinter Headwall has put his name in lights for an Everest slot with a barnstorming Concorde Stakes win but the performance of runner-up Lady Shenandoah has almost overshadowed it.
A dual placegetter at Group 1 level in the autumn, Headwall returned in the vein he left off, settling back in the field and winding up down the outside to win Saturday’s Randwick sprint, one of the key lead up races to the $20 million October showpiece.
His relieved trainer Matt Smith said he hoped the six-year-old had done enough to attract the attention of Everest slot holders.
“Hopefully someone will give us a call,” Smith said.
“You never know. It’s a hard race to get into and everybody wants to be in there. It’s about timing and the timing is good for this horse.
“We wanted to get him into the clear and just let him do his thing today and Zac (Lloyd) got him out at the right time. It was a good effort and there is plenty of improvement to come from him.
“Everything has been good about the prep. We’ve had a really trouble-free run into today’s race and I just wanted to see him come out and do that.”
Headwall ($4.20) denied a luckless Lady Shenandoah ($2.60 fav) by a short head, the later producing an outstanding finishing sprint after being held up in the straight, with Ostraka ($31) another half-length away third.
Trainer Chris Waller is testing Lady Shenandoah as a sprinter this campaign with a view to selecting her as his stable’s Everest runner and jockey James Mcdonald says she has lost no admirers.
“You have got to be pretty happy with that apart from not winning. Gallant in defeat,” McDonald said.
Headwall firmed from $34 into $26 for The Everest (1200m) after his win with Lady Shenandoah also tightening from $11 to $8 with Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising a dominant $1.80 favourite.
All Aged Stakes winner Jimmysstar, who is already confirmed for an Everest start, was doing his best work late for fifth at his first run over 1000m.
“Good effort with the weight. He just hit a flat spot over this trip but his last fifty metres was great. He is well and truly on track,” jockey Ethan Brown said.
