Dormant Celestafy erupts in Ipswich
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Celestafy (outside in pink silks) unleashes raw speed to take the T.L. Cooney QTIS 3YO Handicap on Ipswich Cup Day (Noel Pascoe photo)
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The 20,000 racegoers on Ipswich Cup Day would be forgiven for thinking Celestafy had simply not shown up, that is until she lit up the straight in the Schweppes T.L. Cooney QTIS 3YO Handicap 1350m.
Jockey, Scott Seamer showed great control and patience on Celestafy (F3 Canadian Silver CAN-Celestial Star) unleashing her blinding acceleration in the last 150 metres to establish a long head win over Syndrome (Larry Cassidy) and Our Nautique (Craig Grylls).
“The pace was on and she was able to outrun them,” said Seamer. “She’s got quite a powerful finish, but when a horse has got that you have got to have a bit of luck on them as well.
“She drew a little bit wide and her normal racing pattern is to get back, but in her last couple of starts she got well and truly back right out of the race.
“On Saturday (June 13) she was equal last but I was lucky enough that when they came around the corner I couldn’t win if I took her around, so I just rode her for luck through the centre and the runs came and away she went.”
Seamer went into the race well aware of the stiff competition. “I thought she’d go well,” he said. “You can never be confident of winning I don’t think really…but she went very well.
“It wasn’t a big field but it was quite a strong field (including) the horse of Gillian Heinrich’s, Cat D’antibes…they’re no slouches. It was a strong enough race but she went quite well.
“She started to let down (in the straight) and made ground on them quite quickly, it was very good.”
This was Celestafy’s first metropolitan race win for trainer-owner Ray Dart and his wife Kerry; however she had established a reputation of producing consistent results early in her career.
Celestafy has now notched up $80,800 in prizemoney from 14 starts which includes $25,900 in QTIS added bonuses.
Seamer praised the sales concept. “That’s what QTIS is all about; it’s good for a small trainer like Ray and his family. You can outlay a small amount and if you can get one to win a city race it’s well rewarded,” he said.
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Ross Dowd – June 15
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