Bivouac and Wootton Bassett (GB) are locked in an intriguing battle to be leading second crop sire this season and the former delivered a powerful blow in the $300,000 Group III Winx Guineas (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday when his progressive gelding Cellarmaster (NZ) charged to victory.
Settled towards the rear by Ryan Maloney, the Tom Charlton trained son of Bivouac launched down the outside in the home straight after the Lisa Latta-trained Platinum Pantheon had dashed clear and looked to have the race in his keeping.
However, Cellarmaster continued to lengthen stride and reeled in the gallant New Zealander in the shadows of the post to claim the $300,000 feature by less than half a length.
Charlton admitted there was a point where he thought the race had slipped away.
“I thought we were beat,” Charlton said.
“But our horse probably maps a bit stronger at the mile. He’s been improving and he probably enjoys being ridden a bit quieter, we learnt that with him recently.
“It’s a good performance and I think he’ll keep improving. Ryan had a really good understanding of him when I spoke to him this morning, and I think he’s a chance of running a bit further in time as well.”
Charlton also believed Cellarmaster's previous fifth placing in the Gr.3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m) was better than it appeared and a strong form race.
Already stakes placed and the winner of three of 11 starts with prizemoney topping $340,000, Cellarmaster's immediate future remains under consideration.
“He is Magic Millions eligible, so whether we target a late summer prep into the Magic Millions or give him a couple of weeks and bring him back for the spring, we need to figure that out,” Charlton said.
Maloney said the gelding had enjoyed a much smoother run than at his previous start and was confident he was aboard the right horse.
“He was a victim of circumstance last time. He ran really well at Eagle Farm but he was never able to make a proper impact from where he was in the run,” Maloney said.
“I thought he was the best horse in the race, and when we got cover I was pretty pleased with myself.
“When we got out I thought we were going to run a nice second, because I saw Ben Thompson fly past me at a rate of knots on the other horse.
“But it’s a nice long straight here and once he hit top gear I was delighted, so credit to the horse for digging deep and getting the job done.”
Cellarmaster was bred by Marie Leicester and is another member of her famed ‘Belle’ family.
He was bought by John O'Shea Racing/James Bester Bloodstock for $260,000 from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft at Magic Millions and is the first winner from Moet Belle, a half-sister by Tavistock to the 14-time Group One winner Melody Belle.
Cellarmaster is the sixth stakes-winner for Bivouac, who is priced to please at Darley NSW this spring at $33,000.
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