Eighth Winner for Vancouver

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Narvaez (2c Vancouver x Headway, by Charge Forward) has been on an upward trajectory since making his debut at Moonee Valley last November and the stable has ambitious plans for the talented youngster following his fighting win in a 1600 metre maiden at Bendigo on Sunday.

With Craig Williams in the saddle Narvaez was determined to the line, relishing the step up in trip to win by a short-half-head.

Purchased by Gai Waterhouse Racing / Adrian Bott for $300,000 out of the Lime Country draft at the Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Narvaez was making his fifth start having finished seventh in a 1000m scamper around Moonee Valley on November 30 before filling the same spot over 1200m at Randwick three weeks later. Given a let-up he placed over 1100 metres on the Kensington track at Randwick and at Hawkesbury before showing his appreciation for the extended distance at Bendigo.

Bred by Makybe, Narvaez is the sixth foal and third winner from Headway who was honoured as the Champion 2YO Filly in Australia in 2008/09. Her career defining win came in the Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes and she was runner-up in the Golden Slipper.

Narvaez becomes the eighth first crop winner for Golden Slipper winner Vancouver (seven in Australia, one in South Africa), who has had a productive weekend after Exhibition (2c Vancouver x Haiku, by Encosta de Lago) opened his winning account over 1500m at Randwick on Saturday.

Vancouver stands at a fee of $30,250 this spring.