3 Win Saturday - Celestial Wonder-Ful

Impressive Maiden winner Celestial Wonder (3 f Xtravagant – Meteoric Lass, by Stratum) was back in business winning the $40,000 Evergreen Bloodstock 3YO 1100 metres on Saturday at Ellerslie.

A filly that won two of her three trials before racing, Celestial Wonder finished second on debut before exuding a lovely action to score by four and a half lengths in November at Te Aroha, and had a let up after finishing second to subsequent Group Two Eight Carat Classic winner Hitabell (Embellish) in the Listed O’Leary’s Fillies Stakes.

She then prepared with a second and first respectively at the trials, before being claimed on the line (half-head) when resuming in the 3YO 1200 metres on 13 April at Te Rapa, and faced a softer assignment since yielding late after leading a very competitive Group Three Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes over 1200m on 26 April at Te Rapa.

Trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson had been successful earlier on the programme when War Of Succession was given a lovely ride by Vinnie Colgan, and premiership leading jockey Craig Grylls emulated the performance aboard Celestial Wonder.

Rating a top three chance, Celestial Wonder was able to slot in fourth after the initial hectic rush for positions, travelled well, stalked the two leaders near the home turn, and kept finding once in front at the 200m.  

“They went hard enough early and we got a really good run,” Grylls said. “She showed a good kick to get there (front), wandered a bit, but dug deep once the second horse came up to her, so it was a really good effort.”

On footing that remained Soft5 throughout the day, Celestial Wonder ran 1100 metres in a slick 1:04.9, last 600m in 35.3, and held firm in favouritism to pay $2.20 & $1.20 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was really good to see her win at Ellerslie, and that’s where the biggest prize money is these days,” Walker said. 

“She cornered well into the straight and it was a good tough effort to hold the challengers at bay. 

“The key was a drop back to 1100 metres and Craig (Grylls) was able to take a good sit on her, just off the speed.”

On course, Te Akau Assistant Trainer Reece Trumper added: “It was a great ride by Craig. We told him to be positive and he was, and she got the suck run off a good tempo, dropped in on them, and it was great effort.

“It was a strong race (Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes) last time. She looked a really nice chance until about the 200m and only folded late, but back to 1100 metres and able to take a sit was the key to it.

“Craig (Grylls) is there riding work for us most mornings and we love having him in the tangerine, for sure.”

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 A$50,000 as a yearling at the 2016 Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Kitchwin Hills.

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 One Golden Slipper (1200m).

Ellis also purchased the sire of Celestial Wonder, Xtravagant (Pentire), as yearling at Karaka - the dual Group One winner included a record-breaking (1:33.5) 8.5 length win in the Group One NZ 2000 Guineas and an 8 length victory in the Group One NRM (Waikato) Sprint before going on to stand at Newhaven Park Stud in New South Wales. 

“She was an impressive winner at her second start and has now had two wins and three seconds from only six starts, so she’s going really well,” Ellis said. 

“We’d bought the mare (Meteoric Lass) and sent her over to be served by Xtravagant, and she’s since been served three times by Cool Aza Beel. 

“We’re a big fan of Newhaven Park and the Kelly family that owns and runs it. They’re fantastic breeders and they stand two stallions from Te Akau, Xtravagant and Cool Aza Beel who had his first Group winner from his first crop in Cool Archie today at Doomben.

“The Kelly family has 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.

“All the teams are going really well. We couldn’t be happier with the quality of both horses and people, and we’ve always got plenty of racing action to look forward to.

“We’ve been getting young horses through their early education at the stables in Matamata and Cranbourne, and we still have a few shares available in these horses that are rising two-year-olds on 1 August and they are showing plenty of early promise too.”

Celestial Wonder was strapped Murala (Mali) Mallesh.

Photo credit - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz