Promising three-year-old Celestial Wonder showed plenty of courage as she put in a resolute finishing burst to take out the Evergreen Bloodstock (1100m) at Ellerslie.
The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-prepared filly had looked good during her opening campaign where she won her second start before being put aside for a spell after finishing runner-up behind Hitabell in the Listed O’Learys Fillies Stakes (1340m) in November.
A narrow defeat over 1200m at Te Rapa in her first start of a new campaign was followed by a midfield finish in the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) late last month.
The daughter of Xtravagant stripped a picture of health for her assignment against her fellow three-year-olds on Saturday and she lived up to those looks with a comprehensive performance courtesy of a lovely ride from Jockey’s Premiership leader, Craig Grylls.
Grylls bounced the filly away nicely to sit in fourth behind pacemaker Lucullan, with Grylls edging her forward to issue her challenge rounding the home bend.
Lucullan fought strongly but Celestial Wonder gained her measure at the 200m before holding out a swooping late run from Cactus Jack, who got to within a head of the winner but no closer.
Te Akau Racing Manager Reece Trumper was delighted by the ride from Grylls and just how tough the filly was in the closing stages.
“It was a great ride by Craig as we told him to be positive and he was,” Trumper said.
“She got the suck run off a good tempo, dropped in on them and was too good.
“She went a good race last time and just folded at little at the 200m whereas back to 1100m today and off a good speed, she was able to take a sit and that was the key to it.
“Craig is there riding work for us most mornings, including raceday and we are glad to have him in the tangerine colours.”
Grylls was also quick to praise his mount who showed plenty of grit in the concluding stages.
“It worked out good as she began well but I was able to slot into the one-one as there was plenty of speed on,” Grylls said.
“She travelled nicely throughout and found a good kick although at the 250m she wandered a little bit, but when the second horse came up to her, she dug deep.
“She’s got plenty of toe but finished off from a good position today so it was a good effort.”
Bred by Te Akau Racing CEO David Ellis, Celestial Wonder carries the colours of Te Akau Racing, who trained her Group One-winning sire Xtravagant, and her three-win dam Meteoric Lass. - LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
