More Than Ready's Starelle Breaks Her Maiden in Kewney Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday March 6

Winless in seven starts, the Danny O'Brien-trained Starelle chose the perfect spot to break her maiden in Saturday's $200,000Group II Kewney Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.

Starelle finishes best in a thriller (image Grant Courtney)

Ridden by Craig Williams, Starelle had just two of the 11 starters behind her at the 300. Willians navigated a passage between runners to hook up with Chica Fuerte and Personal, and those three fought it out to the finish.

It was the daughter of More Than Ready (USA) who had a short-head advantage over Chica Fuerte (Hinchinbrook) with Personal (Fastnet Rock) a half-head back in third.

Runner-up in the Group II Edward Manifold Stakes at Flemington last spring, Starelle came into the race off a third behind Zoudancer in the Group III Vanity Stakes at Flemington on February 13.

O'Brien said Starelle thoroughly deserved the win.

"She was tipped out in the Manifold in a similar race in the spring. I thought she was going to get nutted again in a photo, but she dug deep and it was a nice win," O'Brien said.

She's always competed in good races and she's really furnishing into a lovely three-year-old filly now. I think there'll be more wins in store.

"She's got a great pedigree, and we're very pleased to be involved with her."

"Robert (Anderson) has got some lovely fillies. Paradee (fourth in the Group 1 Australian Cup) ran a really good race for him. He's very pleased to get another stakes-winning filly today.

"She will probably head towards Adelaide. She might stay here for the stakes race at Moonee Valley in a couple of weeks time. She is VOBIS Gold (nominated), so the VOBIS Gold Day and then maybe the Australasian Oaks."

Starelle (image Grant Courtney)

Bred by Hesket Bloodstock, Starelle was consigned by Amarina farm to the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where she failed to meet her $250,000 reserve.

The daughter of More Than Ready (USA) is the first winner for the Reset mare Star Of Giselle, whose nine wins included the Group II SAJC Queen of the South Stakes, Group III MVRC Tesio Stakes, and Group III MRC Mannerism Stakes.

Star Of Giselle is a half-sister to the crack racemare Solicit (Street Cry), who won the Kewney Stakes in 2014. She also won the Group II Guy Walter stakes and was placed in three Group 1s, the VRC Oaks, ATC Coolmore Classic and Vinery Stud Stakes.

Star Of Giselle has an unraced 2yo filly by Snitzel named Star Waltz, who is in training with Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra.

After two fruitless seasons, Star Of Giselle was covered by Dundeel last spring.

Starelle becomes the 208th stakes-winner for More Than Ready (USA), who spent the last winter in Kentucky after 19 glorious seasons shuttling to Vinery Stud in the Hunter Valley.

More Than Ready (image Mark Smith)

Advertisment

Race Result - Tab Kewney Stakes Gr2 1600m

Flemington Track: Good(3) Time: 1:35.04
1
Starelle
- 3f More Than Ready (USA) x Star Of Giselle (AUS) (Reset (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Craig Williams 56
More Than Ready
2
0.1
Chica Fuerte
- 3f Hinchinbrook (AUS) x Guapa (USA) (Rock Hard Ten (USA))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: M Zahra 56
Hinchinbrook
3
0.2
Personal
- 3f Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Personify (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: T Dabernig & B Hayes Rdr: D Oliver 56
Fastnet Rock
4
4.7
Shojiki
- 3f Redoute's Choice (AUS) x Sacred Witness (AUS) (El Moxie (USA))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: L Nolen 56
5
4.8
Perfect World
- 3f Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Fiorentina (AUS) (Dubai Destination (USA))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: M J Dee 56
6
7.3
Yes Baby Yes
- 3f Dissident (AUS) x Exabelle (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: L & T Corstens Rdr: Jamie Kah 56
7
8.8
Vespertine
- 3f Epaulette (AUS) x Sweet Nothings (AUS) (Falvelon (AUS))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: L Currie 56
8
12.5
Island Joy
- 3f Hinchinbrook (AUS) x Spirit Of Joy (AUS) (Big Brown (USA))
Tnr: M Ellerton & S Zahra Rdr: Damien Thornton 56
9
14.0
Selfless
- 3f Redoute's Choice (AUS) x Angel Of Mercy (AUS) (Hussonet (USA))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: M J Walker 56
10
16.3
Miss Guggenheim
- 3f Dundeel (NZ) x Sharnee Rose (AUS) (Nadeem (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Jye McNeil 56
11
17.0
Safe Passage
- 3f Snitzel (AUS) x Travessia (JPN) (Deep Impact (JPN))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Damian Lane 56
More Reading...
$1.3million Snitzel Colt Ready to Fire on Debut for Te Akau
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are confident they have the young firepower to make an early impression in the first of the black type features at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.
Magic Millions 2025 Magazine Online
The 2025 Magic Millions magazine is now online with a great mix of gallery images, editorial and vendor profilies.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
$2,000 Gavelhouse Bargain Keeps on Winning!
The Grey Goose continued to belie her purchase price last start when recording her fifth win at Wingatui, bringing her career earnings to more than $225,000.
Luberon Heads Cambridge Stud Saturday Charge
Lance Noble will attempt to add to a strong run of spring form for Cambridge Stud when he sends out five well-credentialled runners in Brendan and Jo Lindsay’s black and gold colours at Pukekohe on Saturday.
Cambridge Stud News
It’s been the spring that keeps giving for Cambridge Stud and it’s not over yet.
Best On Breeding
The cerise, white crossed sashes and black cap of Bob Peters, Peter's Investments, may not be the once dominant force they have been for decades in Western Australian racing, but they are far from finished.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Pinhook Winners 2024 NZB Ready to Run – Churchill Colt the Star
A record breaking NZB Ready to Run Sale this week at Karaka delivered plenty of pinhook success with 18 two year-olds selling for $300,000 or more above their yearling purchase price, so let’s take a look at some of the best of them.