High-class filly Bellatrix Star (Star Witness) displayed her versatility when usurping the Gr.3 Scarborough Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on Friday night on a Good4 surface.
The Mark Walker-trained three-year-old was sent out a $9.50 chance by punters with her previous Listed Cap D’Antibes (1100m) victory at Flemington coming on a rain-affected surface.
Jockey Michael Dee was able to get Bellatrix Star into a stalking position just off the leader in the three-year-old fillies contest before swooping in the home straight to score a comfortable three-quarters of a length victory from Tasmanian filly Geegees Mistruth (Wordsmith), with Tobeornottobe (Pierata) back in third.
“She improved again off last start, so tonight probably the question mark was a firmer track,” Dee said.
“She was able to get on soft ground at Flemington last time, which she probably prefers but this just shows that she’s got a lot of versatility.”
Dee believes the sprint distances will be most suitable for the daughter of Star Witness.
“She is a horse that can get on the bridle quite strongly at times, and we’re quite lucky that the tempo was strong tonight. So I think she’s going to be a good horse. She’s racing well at this sort of trip, so 1200m is probably her go,” he said.
“There are plenty of options for three-year-old fillies at this time of the year. It’s just good to get these wins on the board.”
Bellatrix Star took her overall record to four wins from eight starts, including victory in last season’s Gr.2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) at Pukekohe in her native New Zealand.
Walker’s Cranbourne-based assistant trainer Ben Gleeson said it was a “confidence-booster” to see the filly step up again after her Flemington win.
“She obviously won dominantly last start, but for her to put that field away again and improve and show that she’s certainly up to maybe a better level, gives us a really good confidence booster,” he said.
Raced by John Galvin’s Fortuna Racing, Bellatrix Star has now earned A$438,757 in prizemoney to date.
Bellatrix Star was offered by Phoenix Park in Book 1 of Karaka 2023, where she was bought for $80,000 by Fortuna Racing in partnership with Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis.
