Chris Waller and Star Thoroughbreds have been on a roll of late and the Mossman colt Cellarman kept the run going when he broke his maiden in Saturday's Listed Wintergarden Stakes at Eagle Farm.
It did not come without some drama. With Hugh Bowman in the saddle, Cellarman defeated Brulee (Hinchinbrook) by a half neck before Jim Byrne on the runner-up lodged a protest against Cellarman for interference near the 300 metres.
Stewards let the result stand and Waller was full of praise for the winner who he compared to Shellscrape who won the Wintergarden in 2009 before going on to win the Group 1 The Galaxy.
"He'll be a nice horse to follow in the spring and he reminds me a lot of Shellscrape," Waller said.
"That horse went on to bigger and better things and, who knows, this bloke might be the same."
After an unplaced effort at Wyong when making his career debut on May 17, Cellarman finished second
A $90,000 purchase by Star Thoroughbreds from the Yallambee Stud draft at the 2015 Inglis Premier Yearling sale, Cellarman (pictured as a yearling ) is the first live foal of the unraced Cape Cross mare Vintage Blend a half-sister to Listed stakes winner Vintner (Hennessy) and the stakes-placed Perfect Drop (Quest For Fame) who was runner-up in the Group 1 AJC Oaks and Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes.
The second
Not served in 2014, Vintage Blend was covered by Husson (ARG) last spring.
Cellarman becomes the 35th stakes-winner for Vinery Stud's ever-consistent stallion Mossman who stands his 17th season this spring at a fee of $16,500.
