Our Celebrity was on her best behavior to score a brilliant win in the $60,000 Sky Racing Southern Cross Two-Year-Old Fillies final (1800m) at Globe Derby Park on Saturday.
A red hot $1.50 favourite, Our Celebrity, driven by Mark Billinger, overcame an awkward draw of eight to score by 11 metres from Ellen Louise ($5) with Shania Black ($21.50), 1-1/2 metres away third.
Billinger deliberately took the filly away from the inside as the gate released and was happy to allow the filly to go around and sit outside the leader Ellen Louise before dashing clear in the home straight.
On July 9, Our Celebrity was not in a good mood, rearing up when there was a false start, then over-racing during her race and fading to finish fourth.
Part-owner-breeder Bruce Cameron said he believed it was a combination of factors that resulted in the filly getting fired up.
“It was a stormy night, raining and there was a false start,” Cameron said. “She can be a bit flighty but just became stirred up and it was all too much.
“Credit to Emma (Stewart) and Clayton (Tonkin) when the filly got home they worked with her and she has been great in her two subsequent runs.
“After that stormy night I thought she might need the paddock, but judging by her wins over the past two weeks, maybe we will still consider heading on to the Breeders Crown. I know Emma and Clayton will make the right call.”
For Cameron, it was his third success in the Two-Year-Old Fillies Southern Cross having been successful with Beauty Secret (2011) and Rocknroll Magic (2015). The trio have all been trained by Emma Stewart.
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