WINNER: Celestra Cruises Home

Having her first start for the stable, Celestra (4 m I Am Invincible – Dream In Colour, by Frankel) won the A$45,000 Duffy & Simon Lawyers Maiden 1200 metres on 16 October at Cranbourne (Victoria).

The only runner on the programme for trainer Mark Walker, who runs the Te Akau stable at Cranbourne, Celestra had placed in three of six starts to 1450 metres, and found the line solidly from back in the field for fifth in a jump out on 28 September.

Ridden by Jett Stanley (22), Celestra was pushed up from barrier four to secure a lovely position behind the leaders, tracked into contention from the 600m, and produced a strong finish to have matters sewn up near home. 

“The main instructions were to get her to begin and put herself there,” Stanley said. “She’d got a little bit placid, but we were able to get into a beautiful position, three back and one off the rail.

“I was able to track one into the race and let her run home and she did so quite nicely, too. She’s a quite a big filly and you just have to go with her and allow her to use that big, long, stride.”

On footing upgraded to Good3, Celestra ran 1200 metres in 1:10.9, last 600m in 35.7, and paid $5.30 & $1.90 on the NZ TAB tote. 

On course, assistant trainer Ben Gleeson said: “It was a gun ride, Jett Stanley gave her a great steer.

“We’ve been trying at home to get her to begin a bit quicker, and it can be nervous around Cranbourne if you get too far back.

“But Jett urged her to settle closer, got her into the three-wide train at the right time, and it was a perfect ride.

“It was a great start to her career in our stable and we’re thrilled for Nick and Kim Wakim (Hilldene Farm) and thank them for giving us the opportunity to train her. 

“Nick is a great supporter of the industry, buying, breeding, and to get the first winner in his silks is a big thrill.

“We’d given her three jump outs and only put the visor blinkers on today. Her gallops at home had been more than adequate and we thought there was something there, for sure, so it was nice to see that the head gear worked. 

“She’ll probably get out to 1400 metres, so to see her do it first-up over 1200 metres is promising.”

Walker added: “She’s a big, strong, mare, beautifully bred, and well ridden by Jett. 

“We’re really pleased to have got the first win on the board with our first runner for Nick Wakim, and hopefully it’s the start of a good association.”

Bred and owned by Hilldene Farm, Celestra is by Champion Sire I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit), the sire of Te Akau bought and trained Horse of the Year and 10-time Group One winner Imperatriz. 

Celestra is the fourth individual winner of eight races, including stakes' placed Wizard Of Oz (Exceed and Excel) for Dream In Colour, an unraced mare by unbeaten Champion Racehorse and multiple Champion Sire Frankel (Galileo).

Celestra carries a Danzig / Northern Dancer cross on the sire lines of both I Am Invincible and Dream In Colour.

Celestra was strapped by Felicity Monteleone.