NZ Juvenile Cellarmaster Surprises Owner
- Friday, 01 January 2010 03:15
Racing owner Judge John Clapham is a little surprised Cellarmaster is proving to be one of the best juveniles of the season.
Cellarmaster won his third race from five starts, and his second black-type race in a row, when he led all the way to take out the Group Three Eclipse Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on Friday.
In doing so, he dented a couple of reputations, notably that of Katie Lee's half-sister Banchee, beaten into second by a length.
Clapham, a retired High Court judge, bred Victoria Derby winner Second Coming from the same family and Cellarmaster is also a half-brother to another Victoria Derby placegetter, Our Bahare.
"Cellarmaster should be a mile and a half (2400m) horse," Clapham said.
"But Dubawi is a great sire - he beat Oratorio in a Group One in Europe - and Cellarmaster is quite a mature horse."
Cellarmaster was retained by Clapham after he was withdrawn from the Karaka sales last year, so he is not eligible for the Karaka Million at the end of January.
Clapham is selling a Keeper half-sister to Cellarmaster at the Select Sale at Karaka next month.
Cellarmaster was aided on Friday by a good ride from Michael Coleman, who did not go hard out in front. The colt was able to run the last 600m quickly, making it hard for runners coming from further off the pace.
The pace probably didn't help the favourite Banchee, who took some time to wind up. She is a contender for the Karaka Million.
Everlasting was slightly unlucky in third, just ahead of Big River, who came from last on the turn.
