Singapore Racing: Such Is Life As Celavi And Beuzelin Reunite

After the mixed feelings from missing out at the last two wins, Louis-Philippe Beuzelin can’t wait to reunite with his favourite mare Celavi this Sunday.

The French jockey has been the speedy Fighting Sun five-year-old’s exclusive partner from Day 1, bar at her last two starts when he was at home watching her salute under replacement rider Mohd Zaki.

Beuzelin was then sidelined through suspension for careless riding on both occasions Celavi made all in a Class 3 race over 1200m on May 29 and again in a Class 2 race over 1100m on June 27, but just scraping home by a nose from stablemate Heartening Flyer.

While no jockey can admit not feeling a twinge when someone else wins on their horses, Beuzelin selflessly said that it’s the Australian-bred mare’s win that counts – even if the first win hurt a bit more.

“I was happy for the mare, and for Zaki, even if the second win was not as hard to cop as she had 50kgs, a weight I couldn’t make, anyway,” said Beuzelin.

“The reason why seeing her win really warmed the cockles of my heart was because I’ve been part of her career every step of the way. I’ve won three times on her, including two in a row, and after she had an incident (bled) in trackwork last year, it was such a thrill to see her win again.

“At her first race earlier this year, she was not 100% and was beaten by Darc Bounty. She needed the race, but it was still a super first-up run; I took nothing away from that run, and I knew she would soon bounce back, but unfortunately, I couldn’t be on top when she did.

“Like I’ve always told (trainer) Michael (Clements), together with Heartening Flyer, she is my favourite horse at the stable. She was my first winner for Michael (in 2019), and became the starting point of our association.

“I remember how I still stuck with her, choosing her over any other horse in the Lion City Cup, even though I know she hates grass and had no chance. Michael didn’t have any other horse for me in the race, but I’ve been with her from Day 1 and I just couldn’t let her down.”

Nothing could stop Beuzelin from jumping back on Celavi at her next start coming up in this Sunday’s $85,000 Class 2 race over the Polytrack 1100m.

Sir Michael Stoute’s former protégé was even psyching himself up to waste down to a weight sitting on the fringe of his comfort zone, but he didn’t have to go the extra mile in the end.

“When Michael estimated she may get 52kgs, I’ve been working myself toward that weight, but she was given 53.5kgs when the handicaps came out,” said Beuzelin.

“But it doesn’t matter, I was able to take one ride at 52kgs from the undercard (Ricvelo). The other good thing is she has drawn a handy barrier in three, which is good for a change as I’ve been drawing out wide lately.

“I have to say I was very impressed by her barrier trial last week (August 5). As usual, I never asked her to do too much, and I was surprised when she ran time (58.19secs).

“She’s a mare who always gives 200% of herself on the track. She puts in all her heart out there, she’s an extremely generous mare, and one key to her is you shouldn’t fight her.”

Still, Beuzelin has been meaning to strike the right equilibrium between free rein and bridled energy. Today, he is convinced the once one-dimensional fireball has mellowed out.

“Michael and I decided to change her training since the incident,” he said.

“She was so giving and spent so much of her energy, but she can keep something up her sleeve now. She doesn’t necessarily have to lead this Sunday.

“There’ll be an abundance of speed from horses like Excelling and Webster. It would be wiser to take a drop, but if she lands in front, so be it.”

Clements was also keeping an open mind how the speedmap will unfold when the gates crash back.

“She’ll be up in class to some degree but she’ll certainly be up to the mark,” said the Singapore champion trainer.

“There’s a bit more speed in the race, at least from what it shows on paper. This is a stronger race and it looks like there’ll be more speed on.

“She does like to go forward, that’s her style. She’ll be up there or she’ll be just behind the leaders.”

Having Beuzelin, a jockey who has ridden 15 of his 47 winners this season, back on is also a confidence booster as Celavi builds on her campaign towards the Group 3 Merlion Trophy (1200m) on November 27, the only sprint feature left on the Singapore racing calendar.

“Louis has been riding her previously. He was suspended, that’s why Zaki rode her, and Zaki did a great job winning both,” said Clements.

“Louis is back on, he knows the filly really well, and has done well on her previously.

“She ran a really good trial with Louis last week, she was very impressive. She really gives her all, be it in her races or her trials.

“She’s a filly who does her best when she’s fresh, when her runs are spaced out. I’ve kept her ticking over since her last run, and she’ll be heading towards a distance and surface suited race.”

With Clements often hogging the better-graded races, Celavi won’t be alone on Sunday. She will have as stablemates Quarter Back, Safeer and the resuming Sincerely, interestingly, for a quartet made up of four different breedings.

The Japanese-bred Quarter Back is no slouch but has mixed his form a little this prep. The Empire Maker six-year-old will be looking to make amends from his last-start failure one month ago when raised to Class 2 level.

The Kajorn Petch Racing No 9 Stable-owned seven-time winner will be ridden by his last winning partner Juan Paul van der Merwe from two starts back in a Class 3 race over 1400m in June.

“Quarter Back performs well in Class 3, but has yet to win a race in Class 2. He always needs a good barrier and a lot of things to go his way,” said Clements.

“He’s more of a turf horse, but he can also be effective over this distance and surface. I still expect a good run from him.”

Clements was just as hopeful for Safeer at his comeback race two weeks ago, but felt let down by the Al Arabiya Stable-owned New Zealand-bred five-time winner’s last place in a Kranji Stakes A race over 1200m on turf.

“Safeer was disappointing at his last start two weeks ago. I was hoping for a bit better,” said Clements who has again entrusted the Savabeel seven-year-old into Shafrizal Saleh’s hands.

“He showed no interest in the second half of the race. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt as he has been off for a long time, and I expect some improvement this time.

“As for Sincerely, he is resuming. He had two trials leading into this race, which is more than enough.

“It’s a sprint race, so it’ll be more like a prep run.”

A Listed winner of the Millkom Stakes over 1600m at Toulouse in 2019, the French-bred five-year-old by Evasive has been equal to the task at Kranji with two wins posted over 1200m and 1400m, but is now being prepped up for longer trips. The Falcon Racing Stable-owned galloper will be ridden by Simon Kok Wei Hoong.

– Singapore Turf Club

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