Capella Brilliant in the Eight Carat Classic

Exciting filly Capella (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) made the step up to stake company impressively with victory in the Group 2 $200,000 Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

Owner Gary Harding won the 2013 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series with Fix (NZ) (Iffraaj) and now has another filly that has emerged as one of the favourites to win the Series this season, with Capella.

Capella settled back past midfield and approaching the turn rider Mark Du Plessis peeled the filly to the middle of the track to challenge the leader Ruud Not Too (NZ) (Bernardini) with 250m to run. The Rip Van Winkle filly trained by Dancia Guy raced away to win by one length-and-a-quarter over Ruud Not Too in second place. Valley Girl (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) put in nice performance for third, one-and-three-quarters back.

“She’s 50/50 for Friday’s Group 2 Royal Stakes at this time, but we’re definitely looking at running her in the Group 2 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa," trainer Danica Guy said on Monday.

Capella made her debut at Taupo in September finishing an eye-catching fourth. Capella returned to Taupo with an impressive performance to win the $12,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1300m) winning by a length-and-a-half.

Her last start win at her home track Matamata ten days ago showed she was a filly with ability with an easy near three-length victory in a Rating 65 over 1400 metres .

She had been ridden in all her previous starts by Opie Bosson but Bosson was committed to riding Group 3 Eulogy Stakes winner Coldplay (NZ) (Savabeel) for  the race and Mark Du Plessis took the mount.

Du Plessis and Harding have enjoyed a lot of success in the past with Harding’s brilliant mare Bounding (Lonhro) winning four Group races together, including the 2014 Group 1 Railway Handicap (1200m).

Capella has now won three races in five starts and earned over $72,000 in stakes.

Harding bred Capella from his black-type performer Limerick, a daughter of Grosvenor.

Capella’s win earned her eight points in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series to go second on the table, with NZB 1000 Guineas winner Risque (NZ) (Darci Brahma) with 12 points leading the Series but looks set to have her future racing across the Tasman.

The fifth race of the NZB Filly of the Year Series is the Group 2 Mongolian Khan Royal Stakes (2000m) at New Year’s Day.