Carnarvon based filly Desabelle notched the first victory for WA based sire Celtus on Thursday.

Desabelle (3f Celtus – Wisdom for Pain by Desert King) scored a narrow victory at her third start in the Worldwide Online Printing Maiden (1400m) at Geraldton.  She powered home from the rear of a capacity field to defeat Viello (Oratorio) and Durante (Dante’s Fury).

Trained by Peter Daly, she is one of five named foals from the first crop of Celtus who is based at Distinct Racing and Breeding.  The Serpentine based stud is operated by Geoff Evans and Celtus stands for an advertised service fee of $2,000.

He has averaged a dozen bookings a season since retiring to stud five years ago but among his mares have been 1998 Melbourne Cup winner Jezabeel and 1994 WATC Derby winner Beaux Art.

Celtus dominated Perth’s staying ranks for Evans at the 2003 summer carnival claiming five races in six starts including the G2 C B Cox Stakes and LR Towton Cup.  The winning run ended when he was a beaten favourite in the 2004 Perth Cup.

Celtus is a son of Celtic Swing who shuttled to Australia in the late 1990s.  A grandson of Mr Prospector, his flag-bearer in three season down here was champion sprinter Takeover Target.

Desabelle is raced by Barry Edwards who bought her dam Wisdom for Pain (NZ) for $6,500 at a Perth Magic Millions Sale.  The mare died in October 2009.

Desabelle’s second dam Libra Belle (Sir Tristram) is half-sister to Wonder Dancer (Danzatore) who won twice at Group 1 level during 1988 in the VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes and WATC Australian Derby.