Despite winning the $1million Percy Sykes Stakes in the autumn and a model of consistency, the Headwater filly Jamaea has often been underrated, which may change following her barnstorming victory in Saturday's Group II Darley Furious Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
A career highlight for Brock Ryan, the Robert and Luke Price-trained filly had just one of the 15 runners behind her with just 200m left to run.
Maneuvered to the centre of the track, Jamaea flew home to defeat the Husson (ARG) filly Robodira by a short-half-head with Not A Single Doubt filly Mallory three-quarters of a length back in third.
Jamaea was coming off a troubled fourth in the Group II Silver Shadow Stakes, after which her jockey Tommy Berry received a suspension.
The daughter of Headwater advances her record to three wins and two seconds from seven starts with earnings of $890,740.
"It’s awesome, and I’m stoked,” Ryan gushed.
“When Tommy got outed, I told Luke I know I’m not going to ride her, and we were liaising with who to put on. I was giving him ideas of what riders would suit her. Anyway, I ended up on her, and it’s amazing to get the win.
“Luke has got her flying this prep. Even better than she was as a two-year-old. He rides all her work and lets me have a sit on her probably once a month. She is going super. The way her racing pattern is going these days, I think there is no problem going further.
“I was a little bit worried the horses I was on the back of weren’t in the market. I didn’t think they would take me very far. I got in panic mode to push my way out. Lucky enough, I had the filly with the best turn of foot in the race.”
Bred by Cressfield Thoroughbreds, Jamaea was purchased by Robert Price for $130,000 out of the draft of her breeder at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She is the best of two winners from three to race out of the Johannesburg (USA) mare Isibaeva.
An 11-time winner in Tasmania highlighted by the Group III Bow Mistress stakes, Isibaeva is out of the Encosta De Lago mare Dragila. Like her daughter, Dragila won 11 races in Tasmania, including thee at Listed level.
Isibaeva has a 2yo colt by All Too Hard named Mondo, sent to Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr after his purchase by Blueblood T'Breds/Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) for $55,000 from the Cressfield draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Tragically, Isibaeva died a day after foaling an All Too Hard filly last September.
Jamaea is one of four stakes-winners for last seasons champion second season sire Headwater.
The Vinery Stud stallion covered 172 mares last spring and stands at a fee of $16,500 in 2021.
