Celestial Sea Scores Group One On Cup Day

Celestial Sea (NZ) (Always B Miki) has put herself firmly into Group One New Zealand Pacing Oaks (2600m) calculations later this month following her maiden elite-level victory at Addington Raceway on New Zealand Trotting Cup Day. 

The Robert and Jenna Dunn-trained filly was having her second tilt at stakes level in the Group One Nevele R 3YO Fillies Final  (1980m) where her staying prowess shone through.

From her second row draw she was taken back to sit off the pace by driver John Dunn. She enjoyed her economical passage from her midfield position and turning for home Dunn was able to find some clear room out wide where Celestial Sea gradually ate into Arafura’s (NZ) (Sweet Lou) lead and eventually got her head in front in the last few strides to win by a neck.

Dunn was rapt with the victory and said her staying qualities proved the difference in the end.

“She has just gotten stronger with age and it is a great race to win,” he said.

“It worked out great, I got a nice drag through on the back of Bob (Butt, driver of Duchess Of Kent) the whole way, he was in the one-one and I was three back, we got out at the right time at the top of the straight and once she got out she balanced up and hit the line well.

“She is a staying type. She might not have that real high speed but a couple of times I have driven her pretty hard and she stuck on really well. When they go that hard up front you have got to have those staying ones.”

Co-trainer Robert Dunn was pleased with the win and he now has his sights set on the New Zealand Pacing Oaks at Addington Raceway later this month with his filly.

“She is a lovely filly,” he said. “We bought her very cheaply from the sales, I just loved the look of her. She has shown she is a beautiful pacer from day one. She doesn't have a lot of high speed but she has a great heart.

“She is a stayer and we thought the Oaks was always going to be an ideal race for her. She has got a lot of presence about her and she is going to have a good career.”

Dunn purchased Celestial Sea out of Belmont Park’s 2023 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale draft at Christchurch for $20,000 under his Diamond Racing Stables banner, and she has gone on to win five and place in five of her 16 starts to date and accrued more than $150,000 in prizemoney.