Speedy Star Witness filly Bellatrix Star won the first juvenile race of the season last year in New Zealand for Te Akau Racing and she was back in winning form at Flemington on Saturday when surging home late to take out the Listed VRC Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m).
Trained by Mark Walker and ridden by Mick Dee, she improved off a first up fifth placing in the Group III MRC Quezette Stakes to settle back in the field before unleashing a brilliant turn of foot.
She flew past her rivals once into the clear and ran away to win by more than a length.
"It unfolded perfectly for us. She's a horse that naturally gets back anyway. She does have a short sprint so I was quite happy when the field spread apart in front of me. We were able to work up just behind the leaders doing no work,” said Mick Dee.
"She sprinted through there great and the other asset to her is she loves a wet track so we were quietly confident being on that surface today with the run under her belt and she'd be fit enough.
"She's proven that to be right."
A Group II winner in New Zealand last season, Bellatrix Star was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $80,000 out of Phoenix Park’s 2023 New Zealand Book 1 Sale draft on behalf of Fortuna Syndications and has the overall record of three wins and two placings from seven starts with prizemoney topping $300,000.
“It is basically New Zealand conditions today. It's freezing, it's wet, she just loved it. She got a lovely run and Mick presented her at the right time so she got all favours,” said Mark Walker.
"It was good to see her frank her form. She is one of our better two-year-olds in New Zealand and it is encouraging to see that they can measure up in Australia."
Bred by Rob Dunnett, she was foaled and raised at Seymour Park in Victoria and is the best of two winners from Alana’s Party, a half-sister by Exceed and Excel to Group III placed Petition from Group I winner The Party Stand. A savvy purchase for just $17,000 from the 2021 Magic Million National Broodmare Sale for Mark Pilkington Management, Alana’s Party was carrying Bellatrix Star at the time.
Alana’s Party has a two year-old colt by Royal Meeting (IRE) that was bought by David Ellis for $280,000 at Inglis Premier from the Newhaven Park draft earlier this year.
She has a yearling colt to follow by Nicconi, but no foal this year after missing to Dundeel.
Bellatrix Star is the first stakes-winner of a new season for Widden Stud’s stalwart sire Star Witness, who stands in Victoria at the value fee of $8,800.
