A rails-hugging masterpiece by champion jockey Craig Williams resulted in the Phillip Stokes-trained filly Instant Celebrity bouncing back to her best in Saturday's Group 1 TAB Classic (Robert Sangster Stakes) at Morphettville.
Well back in the field with a wall of horses in front of her, Instant Celebrity was gifted an uninterrupted passage along the rail.
One of just three three-year-old fillies in the race, the gorgeous chestnut daughter of Not A Single Doubt never flinched in the run to the line. She defeated the Chris Waller-trained Rip Van Winkle (IRE) mare Subpoenaed by a half-length with the Patrick Payne-trained Rubick mare Rubisaki three-quarters of a length back in third.
A homebred for Trevor and Beth Robertson, Instant Celebrity advanced her record to five wins and a third from seven starts with earnings of $638,550.
"A great thrill and a great team effort," Stokes said.
"Craig Williams, what a ride. He never went around a horse.
"It is a big thrill for the owners Trevor and Beth.
Craig Williams reserved his praise for Philip Stkes' son Tommy.
"This is his backyard and had done all the work on her," Williams said.
"He was very confident she had come on since her last start.
"She took a lot of bebefit from her first-up run.
"Just the way she walks in the yard, the size she is and she has always had the ability.
"To win a Group 1 at just her sixth start is great for the Robertsons."
Instant Celebrity is the best of three winners from as many to race out of the dual Listed Stakes winner Celebrity Girl.
Purchased by Mark Kavanagh as a yearling for $500,000 out of the Yarraman Park draft at the 2010 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Celebrity Girl (Starcraft) is a half-sister to a half-sister to an $800,000 yearling and a $700,000 yearling, a good indication that this family produces some great types.
After foaling Instant Celebrity in 2017 then missing to Pierro, Trevor Robertson consigned Celebrity Girl to the 2019 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale carrying a positive test to Pierro.
She was purchased by Aquis Farm for $280,000, but sadly her colt foal by Pierro died after birth and she missed to Santos in 2019.
Last spring, Celebrity Girl failed to conceive to Dubious and was covered by Pierata on December 12.
Aquis has entered Celebrity Girl to the upcoming National Broodmare Sale as Lot 1199.
Instant Celebrity becomes the 15th Group 1 winner for the pensioned Not A Single Doubt who will leapfrog back over Written Tycoon in the race for Champion Australian Sire.
