Toronado (IRE) has put his stamp on Celui, who punched his ticket for next week's Group 1 Coomore Stud Stakes with a pipe-opener in Friday night's Chef's Hat Handicap (1000m) at Moonee Valley.
Never closer than three wide the trip under Damien Oliver, the Brent Stanley-trained colt spotted the favourite Revalene 3.5kgs and was untroubled to defeat the son of Russian Revolution by one and a quarter lengths with the Lean Mean Machine gelding Title Fighter a half-neck back in third.
A winner at Bendigo when on debut at two, Celui headed to Sydney via a second over 1000m at Canberra. He was never a factor behind Learning To Fly in the $2million Inglis Millennium and was done for the season. He made a statement with a three-and-a-quarter length romp at Bendigo on resumption.
"He was three wide all the way, but he's a high-quality horse, and that'll top him off good for next Saturday," Stanley said.
"I said to Ollie before he hopped on I haven't been this confident since I won the Maribyrnong up the straight, and the best thing is he's about eighty-five (per cent), he'll be a hundred next week."
"We’re great mates and it’s pretty good to put him on a winner on his last hurrah on the way out.”
“The family enjoyed it; all the owners are here. I’ve got some great clients in it, and it’s just sensational.
“It’s just a barrier trial for next week.”
Carrying the silver colours of Cloud9 Thoroughbreds, Celui was a $200,000 purchase for his trainer from the Shadow Hill Thoroughbreds draft at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Bred by B K Racing & Breeding, Celui is the first to race for the talented Sitzel mare Momma’s Snitzel a Rosehill winner for David Vandyke.
A half-sister to Group III-placed Spot The Rock (Fastnet Rock), Momma's Snitzel had a Rich Enuff filly sell to Northwood when consigned by Fairview Park Stud to the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
The daughter of Snitzel has missed in the last two seasons.
