Third SW for Embellish - Bargain Filly Hitabell Salutes

Media Release - Saturday November 30

The decision to move the Listed O’Learys Fillies’ Stakes (1340m) to a new position on the calendar has worked wonders for Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh, who has now won both December runnings of the Wanganui feature.

Previously staged in September, the Fillies’ Stakes was shifted to its new date last season and Marsh won it with Glamour Tycoon. He targeted the same race again on Saturday with promising filly Hitabell, and again he pulled it off.

Hitabell leads all the way to win the O'Learys Fillies' Stakes. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

“It’s been a good little race for us,” Marsh said. “We won it last year with Glamour Tycoon, who actually came out today and kicked off her new campaign with a terrific run for third at Ellerslie. Now we’ve won it again with what I think might be a pretty nice filly.”

The $80,000 race was the fourth career start for Hitabell, who had scored a smart front-running win on debut over 1100m at Taupo in early October before finishing fifth in a star-studded Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie. In her only other start, she was badly blocked in the straight when seventh at Ellerslie on November 5.

Jockey Courtney Barnes reverted to those winning front-running tactics on Saturday, sending Hitabell straight to the lead and dominating the race from there. After enjoying a slight breather coming down the side of the track, Hitabell upped the ante again at the turn and kicked clear at the top of the home straight.

Favourite Celestial Wonder briefly loomed as a danger on her outside, but Hitabell shook her off and reached the finish line with a margin of three-quarters of a length up her sleeve. Romilly produced an eye-catching finish from the back of the field to run third.

“She pinged out of the gates, which really made my mind up for me to go forward,” Barnes said. “She travelled really well once she got there. From about the 800m to the 600m, I got a couple of soft sectionals, which definitely helped. She kicked really strongly after that.

“Being in front around Wanganui, I knew from the turn that she was going to be pretty hard to beat.”

Advertisement

Hitabell was bought by Stephen Marsh Racing and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock for just $9500 from the 2023 National Online Yearling Sale on Gavelhouse Plus. She has had four starts for two wins and $61,860 in stakes.

“We didn’t pay much for her on Gavelhouse and now she’s a stakes winner and quite a valuable filly,” Marsh said. “We’ve since gone back and bought a full-sister as well, so it’s worked out beautifully.

“She’s a really nice filly. She won very well on debut, then had those couple of runs at Ellerslie and was probably unlucky not to win one of them, and now she’s come out and led all the way in a black-type race.

“We’ll get her home now and work out what we do next. We could have a look at a race like the Eight Carat (Gr.2, 1600m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.”

Hitabell is the third SW for Cambridge Stud's Embellish.

The third individual stakes winner for Cambridge Stud stallion Embellish, Hitabell is out of a half-sister to the Eight Carat Classic, Gr.2 Royal Stakes (2000m) and Gr.2 Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic winner Shikoba. That daughter of Chief Bearhart also placed in the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) and Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes (2000m), and she was New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year in 2005-06.

She comes from the Pampas Fire branch of the famed Australian female family of blue hen Summoned, the dam of champion sire Zeditave.

LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.

Visit the profile page for Embellish

Embellish in upcoming sales:
Advertisment

Race Result - The O'Learys Fillies Stakes LR 1340m

Wanganui Track: Good(4) Time: 1:19.76
1
Hitabell
- 3f Embellish (NZ) x Anahita (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: C R Barnes 56.5
2
0.8
Celestial Wonder
- 3f Xtravagant (NZ) x Meteoric Lass (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: W F Pinn 56.5
3
1
Romilly
- 3f So You Think (NZ) x Idlewild (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: G Richardson & R Norvall Rdr: L Sutherland 56.5
So You Think
4
1.8
Vesphire
- 3f Vespa (NZ) x Sapphire Sky (NZ) (Makfi (GB))
Tnr: R R Manning Rdr: L T Hemi 56.5
5
2.3
Anushka Shesastar
- 3f Proisir (AUS) x Blitzabeel (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: J G Bary Rdr: J K Riddell 57
6
4.3
Connello
- 3f Time Test (GB) x Baillieborough (NZ) (Towkay (AUS))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: C Dell 56.5
7
4.5
Renovations
- 3f Ardrossan (AUS) x Dee I Why (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: C W Cole Rdr: Harry Grace 56.5
8
5
Debbi Harri
- 3f Vespa (NZ) x Saint Angers (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: J G Bary Rdr: T L Newman 56.5
9
6.3
Acapelago
- 3f Belardo (IRE) x Acapela (NZ) (Elusive City (USA))
Tnr: S & K Alexander Rdr: N S Parmar 56.5
10
12.1
Rocstokin Barrel
- 3f Sneaking To Win (AUS) x Verrocha (NZ) (Vancouver (AUS))
Tnr: F W Pratt & C Johnson Rdr: K L Chung 56.5
11
13.6
Prestissimo
- 3f Time Test (GB) x Affrettando (NZ) (Iffraaj (GB))
Tnr: R Mckenzie & J Bassett Rdr: K R Hercock 56.5
More Reading...
La Dorada Chasing Redemption at Valley
Last season’s champion NZ two-year-old La Dorada will be out to prove her ability against her Australian counterparts on Friday night when she contests the Gr.3 Scarborough Stakes (1200m) at The Valley.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday September 24
Here is the full list of 47 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Aquis Welcome First foals for Young Gun Officiating
A fast Group winning sprinter by Breeders Cup Classic winner Blame, Officiating (USA) was carefully selected by Aquis Stallions following a global headhunting mission to secure an outcross stallion for Queensland and his first foals are arriving this spring.
G2 Eight Carat won by Embellish Filly
A brilliant front running ride by Courtney Barnes and a never say die attitude from her mount Hitabell provided trainer Stephen Marsh with a Boxing Day double as the trio combined to claim the Gr.2 Hallmark Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie.
Inglis Confirm Skybird for Everest Slot
Inglis is thrilled to confirm G1 winner Skybird (Exosphere) as our representative for the running of the $20m The Everest.
Breeding to Win - 2025 Manikato Stakes
Racing at The Valley on Grand Final Eve in Melbourne - the southern capital doing what it does best, bringing people together in celebration of sporting greatness!
Half Yours Delivers Fee Increase for St Jean
The rise of Caulfield Cup favourite Half Yours as one of the most promising young stayers in the land has put the spotlight on his sire St Jean (IRE).
Charm Stone share sells for $310,000 ahead of G1 Manikato
A 10% share in G1-winning mare Charm Stone has topped the September (Late) Online Sale selling for $310,000, the second highest price for a racehorse share on the platform this year.
Hitabell Breeder Thrilled With Stakes Success
Sarah Devcich was full of pride witnessing a filly she bred and part-owns in Hitabell win last Saturday’s Listed The O’Leary’s Fillies Stakes (1340m) at Wanganui.
Angel Capital to Run for James Harron in Everest
James Harron Bloodstock is excited to announce a partnership with global thoroughbred powerhouse Yulong for The Everest 2025, with rising star Angel Capital today confirmed as the runner in the James Harron Bloodstock slot.