Cressfield bred Headwater and sold the son of Exceed And Excel at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $500,000 to Team Hawkes, who prepared the colt to win three races, including the G2 Silver Slipper S.
His racetrack performances and pedigree - he is out of the G1 Oakleigh Plate winner River Dove (Hurricane Sky) – subsequently earned him a place on Vinery Stud’s roster.
Jamaea is his best performer to date with a brace of Group 2 wins to her credit with success in the Darley-sponsored Furious S. to go with last season’s Percy Sykes S. victory.
“That was a pretty special win today and we’re obviously hoping the filly can go on with it,” Cressfield General Manager Wayne Bedggood said.
“That was a pretty special win today and we’re obviously hoping the filly can go on with it.” – Wayne Bedggood
Jamaea was a debut winner at Kembla Grange last season before she finished runner-up in the Listed Lonhro Plate and second again in the G3 Magic Night S., and then went one better in the Percy Sykes S.
She was given a spell and returned for a trial outing before finishing fourth when resuming in the G2 Silver Shadow S. She didn’t enjoy the best of runs and still finished a touch over one length behind the winner.
She was sold by Cressfield to co-trainer Robert Price for $130,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and Bedggood remembers the filly fondly.
Jamaea pictured as a yearling
“She was always a nice type and, to be fair all of our Headwaters have been, but we’re biased of course and we’re big fans of the horse,” Bedggood said. “Bruce bought back into Headwater so it’s a great result for the boss.
“Headwater can tidy up any mares that go to him. We had four in that draft to Magics and they were all really nice types, Jamaea was probably the standout of them.”
“Headwater can tidy up any mares that go to him. We had four in that draft to Magics and they were all really nice types.” – Wayne Bedggood
Bedggood said the filly’s sale price at the Gold Coast had met Cressfield’s expectations.
“She was in the session two and that was good money at the time for a new sire, the price reflected the type of nice yearling she was. At that stage, the pedigree wasn’t spectacular and in fairness to Bruce he backed the mare.”
An impressive family
Jamaea is a daughter of Isibaeva (Johannesburg {USA}), who was successful on 11 occasions with her career high a victory in the G3 Bow Mistress Trophy.
She is out of Dargila (Encosta De Lago), winner of the Listed Newmarket H. and the only black-type winner within the first two generations of the pedigree.
“He had faith in the mare, but sadly she died foaling last year. We have got a yearling filly on the ground by All Too Hard and I think we would be retaining her,” Bedggood said.
Cressfield will also be breeding in the future from Jamaea’s half-sister Sidorava (Brazen Beau), winner of three races.
“Bruce (Neill) owns her and leased her out and she has been racing in Tassie. Bruce will get her back at the end of her racing career,” Bedggood said. “Again, well done to Bruce, we generally don’t lease them out so this is one of those lucky outcomes.”
Headwater | Standing at Vinery Stud
Headwater has also produced the G3 Ken Russell Memorial S. winner Wisdom Of Water, the Listed Manihi Classic winner Mileva and Starlight, successful in the Listed Singapore 3YO Classic.
Karacasu, Aquagirl, Heavenly Waters and Be Water My Friend are also black-type performers for the stallion, who has has sired 54 individual winners.
Nomination in Ghaiyyath won
As the breeder of Jamaea, Cressfield has won a nomination to Darley first-season sire Ghaiyyath (Ire), a generous part of the Darley race Series sponsorship.
The filly has secured seven points in the overall Princess Series premiership, which places her first equal in the race to win her owners a breeding nomination to the Darley stallion of their choice.
| Swift Witness | 7 | 1st G2 Silver Shadow S |
| Jamaea | 7 | 1st G2 Furious S |
| Latino Blend | 3 | 2nd G2 Silver Shadow S |
| Robodira | 3 | 2nd G2 Furious S |
| Four Moves Ahead | 1 | 3rd G2 Silver Shadow S |
| Mallory | 1 | 3rd G2 Furious S |
Table: Darley Princess Series Leaderboard after Leg 2
