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Smart winning debut for Celavi

3 minute read

Newcomer Celavi lived up her to her sparkling barrier trial form with a winning debut in the $75,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1000m on Friday night.

Celavi winning the RESTRICTED MAIDEN
Celavi winning the RESTRICTED MAIDEN Picture: Singapore Turf Club

After the three-year-old filly broke a fraction late from gate 10, jockey Louis-Philippe Beuzelin had to bustle her up to stride to the front outside leader Jiuyi (Joseph See).

The duo led the field into the straight, and after Jiuyi started to concede ground at the 300m, Celavi  ($8) shot clear to go and win by three lengths from Jiuyi. Another newcomer Delaware (Joseph Azzopardi) ran on for third another length away.

The winning time was 59.03 seconds for the 1000m on the Polytrack.

Winning trainer Michael Clements predicted a bright future for the daughter of Fighting Sun at the winner's enclosure.

"She's pretty smart. She's shown us a lot in training and she trialled well in Australia before coming here," said the Zimbabwean-born handler.

"She actually got off to a tricky start to her career. We got her as a reserve filly and she had an injury after the sales, so there was a bit of delay.

"But they (the owners, the Celavi Stable) were really happy with what they saw from her in Australia before coming here, and she's followed it in training here prior to racing.

"It's important for horses to get some exposure in the trials if they want to win first-up. She has that ability and she handled it (the race) really well.

"She was a little tardy out of the barrier, which was not ideal over 1000m, but she learns quickly, and she will settle down well going forward."

Beuzelin, who has worked with Celavi both in her trackwork and barrier trials (won one on September 19), praised her professionalism, but was worried about how the conditions on a raceday would affect a newbie like her.

"She's really professional. I was quite confident, she's got the ability," said Beuzelin of his second consecutive winner of the night after he opened proceedings with Jupiter Dragon.

"Today, I was really afraid of the lights. You know, morning work and night racing are two different things.

"I have been riding her every day to keep her calm, but she has her head and the mental is there.

"It's not like she's done anything wrong. These horses are racing for the first time, and there's also the crowd, that was what I'm worried about.

"We could go over six furlongs in future, but all I wanted tonight was that she enjoys herself and that she comes on from the race.

"We work as a team, and we want to aim for bigger races next time."

Celavi cost A$100,000 as a two-year-old, but following her debut win, she would have earned her first paycheque of around $45,000 for her connections.


Singapore Turf Club

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