Boom colt Headwater has lived up to the hype with a convincing debut win at Moonee Valley.

He will now be put away for a short break before being aimed at Group One races later in the season.

By Newmarket Handicap winner Exceed And Excel out of Oakleigh Plate winner River Dove, the $500,000 yearling purchase was sent out the $1.45 favourite in Saturday's Cactus Imaging Plate (1000m).

And he gave his supporters little cause for concern as he raced to a 2-3/4 length win in 58.13secs.

"I think he was in second gear," co-trainer Wayne Hawkes said.

Headwater is a three-quarter brother and stablemate to three-year-old Emaratee, the $4 million yearling purchase who has yet to race but is not far off a debut.

Hawkes said Headwater had shown plenty of talent right from the start.

"It's always good to get the first one out of the road," he said.

"He's a high-class horse.

"The weather is beautiful so he'll have a break now and get ready for a couple of nice Group Ones in Melbourne and Sydney maybe, I'm not sure what yet.

"He's done a great job and he's a real professional two-year-old with a huge, fat pedigree."

The Hawkes Racing partnership won the Golden Slipper last year with the filly Mossfun who kept improving throughout her juvenile season.

"He's got more ability than her at the same stage but she just kept jumping huge leaps and bounds," Hawkes said.

Headwater began well before James Winks allowed Lucky Fish to cross to the front and then he angled to his outside.

After balancing up and rolling towards the rail, Headwater put the race beyond doubt, defeating Stoker ($8) with Mr Jagger ($16) a ha;f length away third.

Winks is convinced the colt still has plenty of improvement to come.

"He's still a big kid but what he's doing now is a little bit frightening compared to when he goes for a spell and comes back," Winks said.