Star Witness Filly Wins First Kiwi Juvenile of Season

Media Release - Sunday September 3

Te Akau Racing unveiled yet another exciting juvenile at Wanganui on Saturday, with Star Witness filly Bellatrix Star taking out the opening two-year-old race of the season, the Whanganui Chronicle Maiden 2YO (800m).

Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson wasted no time in showcasing their filly at the trials earlier this month, stepping her out over 650m at Te Rapa on August 1, where she showed signs of what was to come when winning her heat.

Bellatrix Star (outside) winning at Wanganui on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

Bellatrix Star (outside) winning at Wanganui on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

Drawing the outside of the six-horse field on Saturday, jockey Michael McNab settled Bellatrix Star off the pace before guiding his charge wide when turning for home where she was able to eat into Hard Attack’s lead and nabbed her rival on the line to win by a nose.

Advertisement

“Even though she won by a short margin, it was most impressive given the way she got it done,” Walker said.

“She had to do it the tough way, getting back and running down the leader, and it’s not that easy over only 800m.

“It was a lovely ride of Michael’s, giving her such an educational sort of ride and that will be great experience for her going forward.”

Pleased with her debut effort, Walker and Bergerson will now send Bellatrix Star for a freshen-up, with their sights firmly set on the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) in January with the filly 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.

Bellatrix Star was an $80,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase.

Bellatrix Star was an $80,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase.

“She’ll have a little break now at Te Akau Stud. I think she’ll come back bigger and stronger and I certainly feel she is a Karaka Million 2YO type of filly,” Walker said.

“There is a lot of upside with her and she has the size and scope to really train on.”

Fortuna Syndicate Manager John Galvin was rapt with his filly’s debut performance and is excited to have a potential Karaka Million contender on his hands, having won it in 2017 with Melody Belle.

“There’s some 50-odd in the syndicate and we had about 20 here on course,” Galvin said.

“Things didn’t go all her way. She was a bit unsettled early in the run, but Michael got her balanced, asked her for an effort turning for home, and although Hard Attack gave us a bit of a fright, in the end our girl did enough to win.

“She’s Karaka Million registered, probably now qualified for the race in January with the stake money, so we’ll just work backwards from that, give her a break and set her up for a couple of races leading into the Karaka Million.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Bellatrix Star Dazzles at Flemington for Te Akau
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).
Wanless Owned 3YO Oceana Dream on Track for NZ Derby
Roger James has unveiled an exciting prospect in his attempt to add a seventh $1.25 million Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) to his record, in the form of unbeaten three-year-old Oceana Dream.
Cambridge Stud Bred Ima Brazen One Salutes
Progressive sprinting mare Ima Brazen One delivered on the promise she showed early in her career with an impressive victory at New Plymouth on Saturday.
Bellatrix Star May Back Up in G1 Champions Sprint
Te Akau and Fortuna Racing’s filly Bellatrix Star proved she is among Australia’s top sprinting three-year-olds last Saturday at Flemington, finishing second in the A$2 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
Torryburn Stud Classic Stars – Variety is Spice of Life
Five years ago Torryburn Stud arrived at Inglis Classic with a draft of eight horses and sold all of them with a colt by Deep Field from Raheights topping the sale at $380,000 before going on to fame and fortune in Hong Kong as Group I winner Voyage Bubble, so what are they offering at Riverside Stables this week?
Bellatrix Star Keeps Winning Run Going in Scarborough Stakes
Since winning the opening two-year-old race of the season in New Zealand a year ago, the Star Witness filly Bellatrix Star has been a model of consistency.
Sires With Winners - Sunday February 2
Here is the full list of 57 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Aussie Owner Buys into NZ Oaks Favourite
Prominent Australian owner Ozzie Kheir is looking to repeat history in this weekend’s Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa, after buying into the $1 million Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) favourite Leica Lucy on Monday.
Star Filly Wins G2 Schillaci
The Mark Walker-trained Bellatrix Star has continued her stunning run of form with an impressive victory in the Group II MRC Schillaci Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday becoming the first three year-old filly in more than 20 years to win the race against older sprinters.
Remarkable Tale Of How Newcastle Trio Bred A Hong Kong Star
A trio of Newcastle racing enthusiasts who became hobby breeders with a mare who won only one country race in NSW and was purchased for $3000 can now lay claim to breeding a Hong Kong star.