Miss Stellabelle wins the Champagne Stakes 2011 at Moonee Valley

Mark Kavanagh has shown there’s still plenty of untapped talent left in his stables after uncovering yet another black type winner at Moonee Valley tonight.

All the talk has been about dominant filly Atlantic Jewel as she forges a path to the Thousand Guineas but Miss Stellabelle earned tonights accolades with a win in the Group 3 Champagne Stakes.

It was a gun ride by Damien Oliver and one which took plenty of commitment as he stuck to his guns and went back on a track that seemed to be favouring the leaders.

Kavanagh admits it certainly wasn’t the way he was hoping the horse would be ridden but given it won, he can only be content.

“I didn’t think they can make any ground tonight I thought he better go forward,” he said.

“Waste of time telling him anything but he obviously knows more than me.
“I suppose Damien Oliver doesn’t take many instructions from an old jumps jockey at Mount Gambier does he.”

As for having found yet another good looking filly Kavanagh says a lot of effort goes into getting the right ones.

“We spend a lot of time purchasing our fillies, we’ve got some really nice ones,” he said.

“I’ve got some nice three year old colts to, they haven’t come along this spring but I expect them to come up as well.”

As for where to next for Miss Stellabelle Kavanagh says she’s already done what they wanted for the spring and they won’t be pushing her too hard from here.

“We won’t override her, she’s jumped from a maiden to a Group 3, only good horses do that,” he said.

“We’ll keep in mind that there’s plenty left there for the autumn.”

2011 Champagne Stakes Results