Promising Dubawi colt Cellarmaster made it three wins from five starts with a one-length victory in the G3 Eclipse Stakes at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.  He defeated Oratorio (Ire) filly Banchee who had scored an eye-catching victory on debut at Ellerslie last month.

Cellarmaster (2c Dubawi – Oenology by Sound Reason) was coming off a Listed victory in the Wentwood Grange Stakes at Te Rapa.  The Kevin Gray trained colt was entered for the 2009 NZB Premier Yearling Sale as Lot 156 but was withdrawn prior to auction and retained to race by his breeder Judge Clapham.

He is a half-brother to Our Bahare (Bahhare) who won five races and was G1 placed in the VRC Derby won by Elvstroem.  Another close relation is Victoria Derby winner Second Coming.

The New Year win was another first for Darley sire Dubawi who was a runaway winner of the European first-season sires’ premiership for winners in 2009.  His tally reached 34 winners when Dutiful scored at Wolverhampton on November 28.  He needed just one more to equal the record set by Invincible Spirit in 2006 but was unable to muster another in December.