Celebrity Miss
Trish Dunell
Trainer Lee Somervell was delighted with the performance of Celebrity Miss at the Matamata trials on Tuesday, with the talented mare comfortably winning her heat from King Krovanh.
The hit-out was exactly what Somervell was hoping to see from the daughter of Civics as she heads toward the Gr.1 Fiber Fresh NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes at Te Aroha on April 9.
"She's going for a Group One mile and I thought if she can't run a strong 1200m we're behind the eight ball with her," said Somervell. "She ran a quick time (1:10.83) and took quite a while to pull up. It was a top trial from the mare."
Celebrity Miss has been freshened since finishing unplaced in the Gr.3 Scot Thrust City of Auckland Cup at Ellerslie on New Year's Day and Somervell knows it's a big call going fresh-up into a Breeders' Stakes with her.
"It's a bit unorthodox what I'm doing with her, but she's very well and I think she'll go a big race at Te Aroha," he said.
Celebrity Miss was ridden in the trial by stable foreman Dana Genefaas, who regularly rides the mare in track work. It was the first trial ride for Genefaas, who is hoping to take out her amateur riders' licence.
The hit-out was exactly what Somervell was hoping to see from the daughter of Civics as she heads toward the Gr.1 Fiber Fresh NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes at Te Aroha on April 9.
"She's going for a Group One mile and I thought if she can't run a strong 1200m we're behind the eight ball with her," said Somervell. "She ran a quick time (1:10.83) and took quite a while to pull up. It was a top trial from the mare."
Celebrity Miss has been freshened since finishing unplaced in the Gr.3 Scot Thrust City of Auckland Cup at Ellerslie on New Year's Day and Somervell knows it's a big call going fresh-up into a Breeders' Stakes with her.
"It's a bit unorthodox what I'm doing with her, but she's very well and I think she'll go a big race at Te Aroha," he said.
Celebrity Miss was ridden in the trial by stable foreman Dana Genefaas, who regularly rides the mare in track work. It was the first trial ride for Genefaas, who is hoping to take out her amateur riders' licence.