Sean Tarry’s Equus Champion of last season, the Captain Al mare Celtic Sea showed she could be in for another sizzling summer season in the Cape when she accelerated away from the top-class Run Fox Run to win the R175 000 WSB Live Games Gr2 Southern Cross Stakes at a sundrenched Kenilworth on Saturday.
The multiple award-wining champion was granted another accolade in an illustrious career when crowned Cape Breeders’ Champion Older Female of 2019 / 20 at a virtual awards ceremony at the end of October.
CeltIc Sea (Gavin Lerena) storms to victory (Pic-Chase Liebenberg)
Owned by Antony and Angela Beck, Celtic Sea had an enormous season in 2019-2020, despite the ups ‘n downs of the Covid-19 pandemic chaos, and her four wins was headed by a double in the Gr1 South African Fillies Sprint, where she coincidentally also accounted for her arch rival Run Fox Run.
The Equus Champion 3YO in 2018/19 and Champion Older Filly/Mare in 2019/20, Celtic Sea was returning from a twenty week break when runner-up to the now Bush Hill-based Temple Grafin in the Gr1 Garden Province Stakes over a mile at Hollywoodbets Greyville. This is the race where she lowered the colours of SA Horse Of The Year Oh Susanna in 2019,
Expected by her champion trainer Sean Tarry to be possibly found wanting for pace over the 1000m on Saturday, Celtic Sea (33-10) was relaxed early before streaking down the inside rail under regular pilot Gavin Lerena and went to catch Run Fox Run (9-20), winning by a length in a time of 57,28 secs.
Candice Bass-Robinson’s Roll In The Hay (28-1) ran a cracker, just a head away in third.
Bred by Cape Outstanding Breeders of last term, Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Celtic Sea has 11 with 10 places from 25 starts.
Celtic Sea is by deceased stakes centurion Captain Al (Al Mufti) out of the two-time winner Ireland (Mark Of Esteem).
This is not the last we have seen of the R325 000 BSA National Yearling Sale graduate this summer.
