Like a fine wine, Candlelight Star is getting better with age for Great Southern trainer Roy Rogers.
The 6yo grey gelding scored a career-best win at Ascot last Saturday and will back-up for a home-town victory in the $75,000 Fitzpatrick Plate (1230m) at Albany this Sunday.
“We were confident he could win and he deserved it,” Rogers said after Candlelight Star picked off his rivals in the Red Shoe Society Hcp (1200m). “I gave him a couple weeks off and put the tongue-tie back on today.”
Candlelight Star (6g Kendel Star – Soft Wind by Medal Of Honor) was bred by the late Mary Johns but he took a while to get mobile before eventually winning an Albany maiden 12 months ago. His earnings have since climbed to $141,700 following three wins at Ascot this season.
Winning jockey Jerry Noske got the run of the race when the winner’s stablemate Potent Secret set some quick sectionals on Saturday. “The speed was on and he was fresh – that’s the way he likes it,” she said. “We probably got to the front a bit too early but he was in control through the line.”
Candlelight Star’s sire Kendel Star is from a classic vintage dating back to 1990. He was bred at Arundel Farm in Victoria which is famed for its historic homestead, winery and thoroughbred stud.
Kendel Star stands at Rivercrest Park at Stratham where he covered 8 mares at a $5,500 (inc gst) service fee last year. “He’s jumping out of his skin,” studmaster Steve Hoare said. “He’s the oldest son of Kenmare still in service and still acts like a horse half his age.”
Hoare is also pleased with the progress of a Kendel Star youngster he sent across to Tasmanian trainer Glenn Stevenson last year.
Stevenson named him Kenfromthebar and the 3yo gelding won second time out in Launceston last month. He’s the final foal of Sandown winner Ansami (Ashkalani) who was also stakes placed in Adelaide.
Hoare kept a link with the mare through her unraced daughter Famous Annie (Famous Roman). She’s in foal first-up to Rivercrest sire God Has Spoken.
CANDLELIGHT STAR
Kendel Star sprinter wins again at Ascot