The Emma Stewart-trained Our Celebrity was back on her best behavior winning the Sky Racing Southern Cross semi-final for two-year-old fillies over 1800 metres.
Such has been the attrition race of eligible two-year-old fillies, the semi-final was actually a prelude with the same field able to compete in this week’s final.
In her heat, on a stormy night, Our Celebrity was upset by both the weather and a false start then subsequently over-raced and faded to finish fourth behind the Ray Holberton-trained Ellen Louise.
On Saturday night, Our Celebrity, the $1.60 favourite, came out quickly from gate three and was taken to the front by Mark Billinger and given a very easy first quarter of 32.6 then stepped it up coming home in 30.5, 29.4 and 28.4 making it impossible for her rivals to catch her.
Miss Mappinga, backed from $5.50 into $3.30, sat behind the favourite but couldn’t match her and was beaten 7-1/2 metres with Acacia Avenue ($21.80) three metres away third.
While the winner was never troubled, Acacia Avenue, trained and driven by David Jack, ran well and unleashed a powerful sprint coming off the back after being hampered and losing valuable ground going into the back straight.
Ellen Louise finished fourth and also came home nicely but was well beaten finishing 29 metres behind the winner.
Bruce Cameron, managing part-owner of Our Celebrity, said he was relieved the see the filly back in form.
“I think it was a combination of things last time, and she was an inexperienced two-year-old filly away from home,” Cameron said.
“Emma said she settled in really well when she went home so we made the decision to come back and tonight showed she is back on song.”
On Saturday night’s race, Our Celebrity will be at a short quote to take off this week’s final.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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