Reigning Bendigo Horse of the Year Celui will make his eagerly anticipated return to the racetrack at The Valley on Friday night when he tackles the first heat of 955-metre challenge.
Trainer Brent Stanley has the stallion raring to go for his four-year-old campaign, off a couple of very slick jumpouts at Bendigo.
Stanley’s son Jett has come down from Sydney to renew his association with the horse and gave him a look around the Valley with a track gallop there on Monday morning.
Jett Stanley was aboard the horse for his first three starts, including his debut victory at Bendigo.
Celui has a solid first-up record (two wins and a placing from three starts) and should be suited by the flying 955-metre course given his similarly good record over 1000 metres (three wins including a victory at the Valley last spring).
Celui drew barrier five in the field of 14 at acceptances and opened third favourite for the race at $8.50.
Chara goes farther
Bendigo trainer Rod Symons made a successful trip to Swan Hill on Tuesday, with stable veteran Luna Chara getting a well deserved third victory.
She was a seven-year-old making her first attempt at 2400 metres, but that didn’t put off the punters after she’d hit the line strongly at her previous couple of starts.
She was sent out a well supported favourite ($3-$2.50) in benchmark 58 company.
Apprentice Alysha Warren has had a productive recent association with the mare, having been aboard at her past four runs for Tuesday’s win, two thirds and a fourth.
She gave the mare an economical run in the box seat and was able to navigate out of a tricky spot after the saddle slipped on the leading horse.
“She’s a horse that’s happy to push her way around,” Warren said.
“She’s so consistent and finishes off well every start.
“It was great to see her get rewarded today.”
Symons will now look to extend the mare’s good run of form now that she’s added the staying string to her bow.
Luna Chara has been a consistent money-spinner for her connections, with 13 minor placings to go with her three wins from 51 career starts to date.
Tuesday’s win saw her tick into six figures with a prizemoney bank of $104,045.