Champion trainer Chris Waller predicted a Group 1 future for Cellarman after the LR Wintergarden Stakes (1400m) on Saturday.
Racing for just the fourth time at Eagle Farm, the colt became the 35th stakes winner for Vinery sire Mossman.
Cellarman (2c Mossman – Vintage Blend by Cape Cross) earned a trip to Brisbane after a promising second to Piping Hot (More Than Ready) at Canterbury on June 13. Settled in the back-half of the field, he let down to land the last juvenile black-type of the winter carnival by a half-neck from Brulee (Hinchinbrook).
“He reminds me a lot of Shellscrape,” Waller said. “This race is a stepping stone to bigger and better things. Shellscrape won it and then on to win a Group 1. This bloke might be the same.
“He’s very promising and the idea was to come up here to help him mature. He will be a nice horse to follow in the spring.”
Cellarman is raced by Star Thoroughbreds after graduating for $90,000 from the 2015 Inglis Premier yearling sale. He had initially changed hands for $70,000 when offered by Vinery as a foal at the 2014 Magic Millions National Sale.
“This is our first stakes winner with Chris,” Star’s managing owner Denise Martin said. “We found him in Melbourne and I thought he represented a lovely, quality colt.”
Cellarman’s dam Vintage Blend hails from the family of champion mare Triscay (Marscay) and La Baraka (Euclase). The latter won her Group 1 in The Galaxy (1100m) at Randwick in 1998 – Shellscrape won the same race in 2010.
Vintage Blend has a More Than Ready yearling filly with Brisbane trainer Kelly Schweida and she’s due to foal to Husson on an early cover last September.
Cellarman is the third juvenile stakes winner by Mossman this season joining Crack Me Up (LR Dalrello Stakes) and Morvada (LR Oaklands Plate). He was Australia’s Champion 2YO Sire in 2013-14 following Mossfun’s victory in the G1 Golden Slipper Stakes.
Mossman yearlings sold up to $180,000 earlier this year and he stands for a $16,500 (inc gst) fee at Vinery.
