2 Win Tuesday - Celestial Wonder Waltzes Home

Backed as if unbeatable, Celestial Wonder (3 f Xtravagant – Meteoric Lass, by Stratum) impressively won the $18,500 KB Bloodstock Maiden 3YO 1150 metres on 12 November at Te Aroha.

Celestial Wonder made it two wins from three starts through the trials' stage when doing everything right in front on 23 October at Te Aroha, and fought hard for a close second, after working forward from the widest draw (12) to sit outside the leader, in the Maiden 1200 metres at the same venue on 30 October.

Rating a top three chance on the strength of her efforts, and ridden by champion jockey Michael McNab, Celestial Wonder began well to contest the pace in a line of three and exuded a lovely action in order to quicken away inside the 300m.  

Scoring emphatically by four and a half lengths, on footing upgraded to Good4, Celestial Wonder ran 1100 metres in 1:07.2 and shortened considerably in betting from an earlier $2.90 fixed odds quote to pay $1.40 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was a positive ride by Michael (McNab), he cuddled her up on the pace and she won with a lot of authority,” said Mark Walker, who trains with Sam Bergerson.

“It’s good to see she can handle better track conditions and, obviously, as a three-year-old we’re conscious of looking towards black type races and The O’Learys Fillies Stakes over 1340 metres on 30 November at Wanganui could be a suitable race for her.

“She’s taken a little while to come to it physically, but I still think there is further improvement now that she’s getting older and more mature.”

Owned by the Te Akau Beyond The Stars Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Celestial Wonder was bred by David Ellis CNZM, who purchased her dam, Meteoric Lass, for $50,000 as a yearling at the 2016 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Kitchwin Hills. She was then syndicated amongst Te Akau owners by Karyn Fenton-Ellis.

The winner of three races to 1400 metres, Meteoric Lass won fresh-up as both a three and four-year-old, and became the fifth individual winner from Benatar (Distant Music), a half-sister to dual stakes winner Meteoroid (Northern Meteor), who scored eight times over 1200m/1400m in Australia.

Adding to the pedigree, dam sire Stratum (Redoute’s Choice) won the Group 1 Golden Slipper 1200m.

Ellis also purchased the sire of Celestial Wonder, Xtravagant (Pentire), as yearling at Karaka, and the dual Group One winner included a record-breaking (1:33.5) win in the Group 1 2000 Guineas before being named Champion NZ 3YO of the Year and subsequently going on to stand at Newhaven Park Stud, N.S.W.

“Gee, that was an impressive win and I’m really pleased to see Michael McNab back riding and feeling good,” Ellis said. 

“We’d bought the mare (Meteoric Lass) and sent her over to be served by Xtravagant. 

“We’re a big fan of Newhaven Park and the Kelly family that own and run it. They’re fantastic breeders and they stand two stallions from Te Akau, Xtravagant and Cool Aza Beel.

“They have the most magnificent property, 15,000 acres where they run a lot of sheep and cattle, and they’ve bred a lot of very good horses.

“Meteoric Lass has since been served twice by Cool Aza Beel, and we’re looking forward to Cool Aza Rene running in the two-year-old race today at Riccarton, after she provided her sire with his first win when scoring on debut at Otaki.”

Ellis also took the time to reflect on his recent trip to Christchurch.

“We inspected all the horses at our stables at Riccarton and then Karyn and I hosted an owner’s function last Friday, before being on course for the 2000 Guineas day,” he said.

“It was good to see the Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in attendance and we spent some time catching up.

“I was really impressed with the way the track played for the first day of a three-day Cup Week carnival. It had just the right amount of give, the 2000 Guineas winner ran 1:33.8, which shows horses were letting down on it, and they should be able to go on to race again during the week.

“I’m really proud of the way all the team is are working together. Mark (Walker) and Sam (Bergerson) are getting great help from Nicole Shailer, our assistant trainer at Matamata, and Ben (Gleeson) doing the same role in Melbourne, and Hunter Durrant running things for us at Riccarton. 

“And Reece Trumper, our racing manager, is just continuing to excel in the role. They’re all great people, just love the horses, respect and want to do the very best for our owners, and we’re very lucky to have them.”

Celestial Wonder was strapped by Murala Mallesh.

Photo  credit - www.raceimages.co.nz