Constellation launches Cup day in Auckland

Constellation (NZ) spearheaded a quinella for trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman in the opening event on the Auckland Cup support card on Wednesday.

Sporting the Fairdale Stud silks, Constellation (Fully Fledged) skipped clear in the straight to defeat stablemate Horse Warrior (Keeper) by over a length in the Qantas Hcp (1100m) at Ellerslie.  “Obviously being a filly and raced by her breeders, we will look to target some black type races with her,” Forsman said.  “We have a good opinion of Horse Warrior too and think he will make into a nice three-year-old.”

Winning jockey Matthew Cameron was also suitably impressed.  “She’s improved two or three lengths from last start and it was a brilliant the way she stretched out.  First time at Ellerslie is always a bit of a fright but she’s done it well and run away from them in the end.”

Constellation (2f Fully Fledged – Canny Asset by Marscay) is a younger half-sister to Sydney Listed winner Al Jameel (Tale of the Cat) and five others winners on either side of the Tasman and Singapore.  Second-dam Astute Angel (Godswalk) was LR winner of the 1992 VRC Gibson-Carmichael Stakes.  It’s the family of G1 winners Canny Lad and Canny Lass.

Fairdale studmaster Duncan Fell has always been confident Fully Fledged (Align) would make the grade at the family’s Palmerston North property.  “He has a pedigree full of speed and high-class sprinting form,” Fell said.  “He suits breeders looking for two-year-old precocity.”

Fully Fledged was a G1 winner of the Ford 2YO Diamond Stakes at Ellerslie and had opened his account in December when Dufellforte broke through at New Plymouth.