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Promising filly Celavi looks all poised to continue on her winning trend in Friday’s last race, the $50,000 Class 4 Division 1 race over 1100m.
First-up from a four-month spell, the Fighting Sun three-year-old got straight back into business with a striking win in a Class 4 speed dash over 1000m on March 3. Despite being trapped three deep, she showed no signs of fatigue in the home straight when she pulled away easily from the rest to go and stamp her authority by more than three lengths.
Trainer Michael Clements was in Argentina at the time, but was suitably impressed when he watched the TV replay of Celavi 's second win from four starts. French jockey Louis-Philippe Beuzelin has been her partner right through.
"She was very impressive at her last win," he said.
"She had to do a bit of work from her wide barrier, but she was out of the barriers well and travelled in a nice position.
"She still kicked clear in the straight and won in good time (58.47 seconds). She's still pretty much in a similar kind of form.
"She's a straightforward filly in trackwork and she's shown ability right from her first prep and now she's won first-up at her second prep. I'm really pleased with her."
Clements is not against the idea of testing Celavi over a longer journey at some stage, but for now, would rather not look too far ahead - better tap into her present strengths while they can.
"She has that much speed that for now she's better suited over 1000m to 1100m," he said.
"I've always believed she will get a bit further, like 1200m on turf, but she's that speedy that I would rather stick to those pure sprint races for now.
"I'll then step her up in trip, and hopefully, we can then aim her towards the stakes races."
At Thursday's barrier trials, Clements was a busy man with three of his five horses winning their respective heats, namely unraced UK newcomer Mardoona, Elite Waterghost and smart mare Gingerella. Harbour Approach (unplaced) and Knight Love (second) were the other two triallers, with the hard-working Beuzelin riding all five.
Gingerella has been freshened up since her disappointing runs in the Group 3 Fortune Bowl (1400m) on January 26 and a Kranji Stakes A race over 1200m on February 15. The Gingerbread Man five-year-old ran unplaced in both.
"I was happy with her barrier trial this morning. With the new Covid-19 measures announced today (one meeting per week), it all depends if that Class 1 race over 1200m next Friday (April 3) is still on, but that was the race I had targeted for her," said Clements.
"She came back tender after her couple of runs on turf. It was hoof tenderness, and that's why I'm bringing her back to Polytrack."
