Talented 3 year old Zoustar fillly OLENTIA began her race career in early December 2022 at Doomben with Jim Byrne aboard. An almost 4 lengths victory on debut over 1,200 metres running a good time, prompted her rider to comment post race “wow….I don’t know what you’ve got in mind for her but she looks as though she’ll go a long way up the ladder!” At her second race start late in December it was Jimmy Orman who made very similar comments after an almost 5 lengths win at Eagle Farm prior to a run in the $250,000 Magic Millions Rising Stars for fillies and mares in January this year just over a week later. OLENTIA ran 4th and Chris decided then that she needed a few weeks to spell. Returning to racing just under 2 weeks ago, OLENTIA raced at Hawkesbury on a heavy 8 track and James McDonald was successful protesting against the first past the post filly, allowing OLENTIA to be awarded the race.

Fast forward and she next lined up in the Group 3 James HB Carr Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday, the final day of the ATC Autumn Carnival. Joao Moreira gave the filly a perfect ride over the 1,400 metres trip and with his decision not to leave the rail as the field turned into the home straight, OLENTIA began to improve and over the final 150 metres she displayed nice acceleration to win in good style; her first Stakes success in a 5 race career to date. It is noteworthy that our recent Group 1 winner ESPIONA also won the James HB Carr Stakes in the autumn of her 3 year old year.

A strong black type pedigree and exposed talent already with 4 wins from 5 starts, OLENTIA clearly appears to have an exciting future. Joao Moreira made the observation that she is obviously a quality filly who can win over longer distances most likely. We thank Chris and all of his team, with special note to his Gold Coast stable headed by Brett Killian for the filly’s earlier racing preparation, together with Brett Howard from Randwick Bloodstock for recommending the filly to us at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale.

Congratulations  to the winning OLENTIA owners Paramount Racing (Manager: Kathryn Wood), Martin Ive, Rachel Ive, Roger Cheetham, Jeremy Rosenthal, Boeara Holdings (Manager: Denise Dunphy), Felgate Holdings (Manager: Paul Felgate), Damien Reed, Brad Russell, Ray Aurisch, The Late Helen Aurisch, CGO Racing.