Best on Breeding: Headway

Her trainer once described her as a ‘little roly-poly thing’ but Headway proved she was among the best two-year old fillies in the nation last season while being the major contributor to her sire Charge Forward being crowned the Champion first season sire.

The Peter Moody-trained filly was second at Seymour when making her debut back in January then reeled of three consecutive wins culminating in the G3 AJC Sweet Embrace Stakes at Randwick on March 14. But her biggest payday came at her following start when earning $620,000 for finishing second to Phelan Ready in the G1 STC Golden Slipper.

In five starts, Headway returned earnings of $776263 to owner Tony Santic who secured the filly for $175,000 from the Turangga Farm consignment at the 2008 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

She is the first foal of the Flying Spur mare Chatelaine, herself trained by Moody, whose long list of near misses in stakes races included runner-up efforts in the G2 AJC Silver Shadow Stakes, G3 STC Research Stakes and AJC Widden Stakes LR.

Headway makes her seasonal bow in the Listed Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday. She lines up against a quality field including VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Rostova (Testa Rossa), the dual Listed winner Come Hither (Redoute’s Choice), Karrakatta Plate winner Gold Rocks (Oratorio), Merson Copper Stakes winner Corsaire (Anabaa), the ever consistent Tariks (Rock Of Gibraltar) and the promising Noesis (Exceed And Excel) a hugely impressive winner at Flemington at her only start back in October last year.

Source: Mark Smith, Breednet