Stella Rouge dominates fillies race

Harness racing filly Stella Rouge (Bettor’s Delight) lived up to her stable reputation when she scored a dominant win in the fourth heat of the Dunstan Sires’ Stakes Series for Two Year Old Fillies at Addington last night.

STELLA ROUGE REPLAY

The winning margin was two and a half lengths and the time of 2-23.2 was faster than both the Sires’ Stakes colts and geldings heat and the Nevele R Three Year Old fillies winning times later in the night.

“Having the pace on helped her last night. She finished the race off really well. She had a good trip on the fence, got held up a bit but when she got out she powered up the lane really good. She seems to have come through the run really good,” said Steve Telfer who trains Stella Rouge in partnership with his sister Amanda.

Last night was the filly’s third race day start and the win adds to the discussion on which of the two year old fillies is dominant in this year’s crop.

“Tim and Mandy have always liked her and ranked her up there with the better ones. Her first run back was a wee bit disappointing. She was probably a wee bit off colour but Mandy and the team have picked her up.”

The top two fillies based on stakes won this season, are Youretheonethatiwant and Captains Mistress. Youretheonethatiwant steps out in Auckland tonight while Captains Mistress goes to the Wyndham Workouts tomorrow.

“I’ve got a big opinion of Youretheonethatiwant. I’ve seen a lot of her up north and Nathan’s filly (Captains Mistress) has done nothing wrong as well.”

Last night’s win elevates Stella Rouge to the eighth spot in the Ace Of Diamonds seedings.

“Where our horse sits in the pecking order we’ll find out in the next couple of months. But she’s definitely up to taking on those better ones. She’s a filly with real high speed but to be honest she appears to have most things now. She’s a big strong filly and she’s got a bit of toughness about her and is very tractable.”

Stella Rouge was offered by Dancingonmoonlight at the 2023 NZB Standardbred Sales in Christchurch and was purchased by Stonewall for $97,500.

“We were out at Dancingonmoonlight at the time (training) and I saw more of her than most of the other yearlings.  I remember her being a really big strong filly with a powerful hind end.”

Stella Rouge will have her next start in the $150,000 NZB Harness Million at Addington on Friday night.

“She’s got the Sires’ Stakes Final on Show Day which she’s qualified for now, then the Aces before she has a wee break and comes back for the first part of the three year old year.”

For complete race results, click here

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink