Cover image courtesy of Trish Dunell
Trained by the in-form Andrew Forsman, Ethereal Star was making her second start when she lined up at Pukekohe Park on Saturday. Though she impressed when second on debut at Te Rapa two weeks prior, the pre-race market favoured another of the fillies, 4l debut winner Luberon (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}).
Finding no cover, Ethereal Star sat three-wide at the girths of the leaders, Cyclonic King (Exceed And Excel) and Vila Belmiro (Santos). As the race unfolded in the home straight, Ethereal Star was the only one of those three to find any improvement under Wiremu Pinn, whilst those early challengers faded dramatically in the closing stages.
Andrew Forsman’s filly never looked in danger however, eventually prevailing by a comfortable 1.75l to the Mark Walker-trained colt Balance Of Power (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) in second, with favoured Luberon a further 4.75l away in third.
Ethereal Star crosses the line in the Listed Challenge S. on Saturday | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
On a Heavy 9, having raced with no cover and no company in the final 200 metres, it was a taking performance from Ethereal Star, one that has Bevan Smith seriously excited for her future.
“Things probably didn’t go to plan with how the race panned out,” Smith told TDN AusNZ. “Being three wide with no cover wasn’t ideal, but there’s always been a good opinion of her, we think she’s very good, and sometimes riding them like they’re the best horse in the race and staying out of trouble can be the best option.
Bevan Smith | Image courtesy of Bevan Smith Bloodstock
“She certainly proved she was the best horse in the race and put them away pretty impressively.”
For Smith, who arrived back in Sydney from the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale hours before Ethereal Star’s victory, the only downside to the afternoon was that he hand’t delayed his return to Australia.
“To be fair, Andrew did say he was very confident, so we probably should have stayed over,” he lamented.
The filly of the year
Picked up for NZ$600,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale earlier this year, Ethereal Star is out of dual-Group 3 winner Eleonora (NZ) (Makfi {GB}), and was signed for by Smith alongside Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) and her trainer.
“I know it sounds silly but we actually thought she was pretty good value,” reflected Smith. “She’s by a Champion Sire and she has a deep pedigree. Andrew Williams and I both got to the sale, we were some of the lucky few to get over. We came together and we both said it almost at the same time: ‘We’ve seen the best filly we’ve seen all year here at this sale.’
“We knew we were both thinking the same thing. We went to Forsman and said: ‘We’ve got to buy this.’ He trained the mother and knew her well, and he was of the same opinion, that we had to buy her at all costs.”
Ethereal Star pictured as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
With residual value being a top priority for part-owner Ben Kwok, whom Smith described as “the driving force behind the purchase,” it’s easy to see why Ethereal Star was so appealing as a yearling.
“We’ve really focused on trying to buy top-quality fillies with good pedigrees that he can add to his broodmare band. He’s quickly becoming one of the biggest owners in racing so it’s very satisfying and a great thrill that he’s getting results like this, and hopefully there’s more to come.
“Ben’s over the moon. He’s put a lot into the game over the last few years and he was just about in tears with happiness. He’s become a great mate and, along with Andrew Williams and Andrew Forsman, we’re all great friends. Then there’s Andrew’s (Forsman) side as well, who are all a great bunch too, and that’s what racing is about - we’re here to enjoy the ride with great people.
“He’s (Ben Kwok's) put a lot into the game over the last few years and he was just about in tears with happiness.” - Bevan Smith
“Though the price was no surprise, it could have been higher - you have to pay a bit for those fillies with residual value, especially the good-looking ones, and she’s justified it almost already by winning a stakes race as a 2-year-old,” concluded Smith.
Family pointers
Ethereal Star’s deep pedigree includes dam Eleonora’s half-sister Supera (NZ) (Savabeel), whose eight wins included two Group 2 events, and third dam Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm {USA}), a Champion Stayer.
Eleonora didn’t make her own debut until March of her 2-year-old year, and although she had to wait until her Classic season to claim a maiden victory, she proved well above average when placing second in the Listed Champagne S. on her third start.
Eleonora when racing | Image courtesy of New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing
It’s fair to say that the family profile points to Classic-year success for Ethereal Star, so where does her precocity come from? As a 129th stakes winner for Arrowfield Stud’s Snitzel (who sired a stakes double later in the afternoon when Letzbeglam took out the G3 Counties Bowl), Smith credited the sire’s record as a producer of top-class juveniles.
“Eleonora trained on to be third in the (G1) VRC Oaks as well. Obviously, it’s a bit of Snitzel coming through - we all know what a great 2-year-old sire he is. But, by no means do we think she’s an out-and-out pre-Christmas 2-year-old; what she’s doing now is a bonus really, she’s doing it on raw ability.
“...what she’s (Ethereal Star's) doing now is a bonus really, she’s doing it on raw ability.” - Bevan Smith
“She’s a lovely, scopey filly. She’s got a fair bit of length to her, she’s not your typical jump-and-run, short-coupled, mature-looking filly. She stands over plenty of ground and looks like she’ll develop into a stronger horse in time.
“We expect her to train on, and we expect her to be better when she’s three. Even at this early stage Andrew has talked of Melbourne in the spring being where we really want to target her. It’s pretty exciting that she’s doing what she’s doing (already).”
In his first full season training solo, Forsman has enjoyed a fantastic spring carnival which, notably, included some successful exploits with cross-Tasman raiders. The headliner was Mr Maestro (NZ) (Savabeel), who was far from disgraced when fourth in the G1 Victoria Derby, having taken the G3 Caulfield Classic on his previous start.
Andrew Forsman | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
Having combined with his previous co-trainer Murray Baker for a total of 25 Group 1s, Forsman also broke through to claim one in his own right when Mustang Valley (NZ) (Vanbrugh) landed the Livamol Classic at Hawke’s Bay last month.
It’s a true mark of esteem then that the trainer should be considering Ethereal Star worthy of an Australian raid next year so early in her career, as he’s proved a fine judge.
“He’s early into his career on his own, and he’s proving to be a fantastic trainer,” said Smith. “He seems to know when to travel them, he gets the results when he does, so hopefully she’s another one he can put on the plane at some stage.”
