Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Dorrington Farm owner-breeder Rob Crabtree knew as soon as he first laid eyes on Miss Celine (Magnus) as a foal, that he was looking at a future star.
And the filly proved she was one to watch after her breathtaking turn of foot saw her salute by 1l in the Listed Magic Millions Debutant S. at Caulfield on Wednesday.
It wasn’t until just before the 200-metre mark that she broke free from the back of the pack and stormed home in the $175,000 feature over 1000 metres, under the urgings of a masterful ride from jockey Blake Shinn for Ben, Will and JD Hayes.
Shinn told racing.com after the race that her turn of foot was “phenomenal” and that he expected a lot more improvement from the talented 2-year-old.
Boutique breeder Crabtree saw these physical gifts in his young homebred sprinter, out of Charm’s Honour (Strada) from the day she was born on his farm.
“She was always easy in the paddock. She wasn’t skittish. But conformationally she really looked together as a foal,” he told The Thoroughbred Report.
Miss Celine’s sire Magnus, who passed away last year aged 21, was a G1 The Galaxy winner in 2007, amassing $1,143,682 in total prizemoney for his owner-breeder Crabtree.
Robert Crabtree after Miss Celine's win in the Listed Debutant S. on Wednesday | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Magnus retired to Eliza Park in 2008, and he has produced 562 winners, with 29 coming at stakes level, including G1 victors Great Shot, Magnifisio, Malaguerra and Streets Of Avalon.
Miss Celine’s dam, stakes-winning Strada mare Charm’s Honour, has now produced four runners for four winners, with two at stakes-level.
That also includes 2018 G1 Blue Diamond Prelude runner-up and now broodmare Enbihaar (Magnus), who is a full sister to Miss Celine.
An $825,000 purchase for Bahen Bloodstock from the Shadwell Dispersal in 2021, Enbihaar is the dam of last season’s 2-year-old Too Darn Lizzie (Too Darn Hot), who placed in the G2 Reisling S. and Listed Jim Moloney S.
Purchased by Dorrington Farm for $115,000 at the 2014 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, Charm’s Honour foaled a Too Darn Hot (GB) filly on September 5.
Crabtree saw special qualities in 2-year-old filly
Miss Celine was the 29th stakes winner for Magnus and comes from the 14th crop.
The late Magnus | Image courtesy of Widden Stud
Crabtree knew Miss Celine had the pedigree for her to start her 2-year-old career in fine fashion, despite not previously seeing the stunning sprint for home which he witnessed trackside on Wednesday.
“You never let them run that fast in the paddocks. But we picked her very early as an early 2-year-old,” he said.
“You never let them run that fast in the paddocks. But we picked her (Miss Celine) very early as an early 2-year-old.” - Robert Crabtree
“Even though she’s by Magnus, who hasn’t had a lot of (winning) 2-year-olds, she’s a full sister to Enbihaar, also by Magnus, who was runner-up in the Blue Diamond to Written By.
“So we knew when the foal was born that we had something.”
Miss Celine, winner of the Listed Debutant S. on Wednesday | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Crabtree also celebrated a winner who saluted in similar fashion at Kilmore on Tuesday, with 3-year-old filly She’s Got Pizzazz (Zoustar) prevailing by a comfortable 2.25l in the Race 1 maiden over 1100 metres, with Shinn also in the saddle.
Out of Listed James HB Carr S.-winning dam Missy Cummings, She’s Got Pizzazz is a full sister to G1 Canterbury S. winner, Mizzy.
Coolmore Australia purchased Mizzy for $2,200,000 from Newgate at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale.
Crabtree now has two active fillies with serious finishing abilities, despite admitting Miss Celine was no chance of winning at the 200-metre mark on Wednesday.
“At the 200, I didn’t think she could run a place,” he said.
Blake Shinn and Robert Crabtree chat after Miss Celine's win in the Listed Debutant S. on Wednesday | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Lucky the jockey had different thoughts. He rode one for me yesterday which is worth having a look at – Race 1 Kilmore, for God’s sake.
“But he’s a Kilmore boy, so he went up there to support them. He rode a filly of mine who’s a full sister to Mizzy.
“And if you watch the race, you will see an identical run. It’s uncanny.”
Miss Celine carries on the spirit of Magnus
Crabtree said Miss Celine did her late sire Magnus proud on Wednesday.
“We bred and raised him. He’s been a brilliant stallion. He’s gone now, so this is a nice little nightcap,” he said.
“We bred and raised him (Magnus). He’s been a brilliant stallion. He’s gone now, so this (Miss Celine's debut win) is a nice little nightcap.” - Robert Crabtree
“It (having good pedigree and a state-of-the-art stud farm) gives them a chance. But like (Tuesday’s) win at Kilmore, she’s a full sister to Mizzy, who’s a Group 1 winner.
“And (Wednesday’s winner) is the full sister to the horse who was a runner-up in a Group 1. You’ve got depth of pedigree and performance.”
Crabtree believes he’s got more potential 2-year-old winners on his property and waiting for their opportunities.
Plaque for Champion Broodmare Scandinavia at Dorrington Farm | Image courtesy of Dorrington Farm
“We’ve got some lovely 2-year-olds still around, and still yet to come,” he said.
“One is by Magnus, and two of them we think are probably better than Miss Celine.
“And she (Miss Celine) is named after my new baby granddaughter. It does (add extra significance to the win).
“It’s good fun.”
