Retired Touchstone Farm stallion Planet Five (USA) was represented by his first stakes-winner at Ascot on Saturday when the Anne King-trained gelding The Celt scored an overdue black-type win in the Group III A J Scahill Stakes (1400m).
Stakes-placed four times previously including a second behind Flirtini in the Group III Colonel Reeves Stakes at Ascot at his previous start, The Celt came with a barnstorming finish under Clint Johnston-Porter to defeat Valour Road (Frost Giant) by half a length with Abdicator (Universal Ruler) a length and a quarter back in third.
Purchased by Vaughn Sigley for $4,500 out of the Roselee Park draft at the 2015 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, The Celt advances his record to 8 wins, 10 seconds and 2 thirds from 39 starts with earnings of $603,350.
The 6yo gelding is the third stakes-winner for King after Miki Two Toes in the Listed Farnley Stakes and Already Famous in the Listed Boulder Cup and the first at Group level.
“It’s amazing, I can’t even say that I’m so nervous,” King told The West Australian.
“My two riders, Clint Johnston-Porter did an amazing job and Alan Kennedy, who is out injured. My heart goes out to him.
“He said this time in this horse has improved so much.
“We gave him a long break and just let him be a horse and he came back super.
“That (1400m) was the biggest question mark in my mind, but Alan said he’s just feeling so well, he’ll be all right.”
The win of The Celt comes twelve months after the birth of the one registered foal from the seventh and final crop of Planet Five (USA).
From one of the great Niarchos families, Planet Five (USA) won three of his 11 starts including the Group II Prix du Gros-Chene (1000m) at Chantilly, beating Piccadilly Filly and Marchand d'Or.
A son of Storm Cat, Planet Five (USA) is a half-brother to last year’s Group II MRC Herbert Power Stakes winner Yucatan out of the champion racemare Six Perfections (Celtic Swing) whose wins included the Prix Marcel Boussac, Breeders' Cup Mile and Prix Jacques le Marois.
The dam of Six Perfections, Yoya (Riverman) is a half-sister to one of the greatest mares to grace the turf, Miesque.
The Celt is the best of three winners from five to race out of the stakes-placed Tribu mare Cintrice.
After not having a foal for three consecutive seasons, Cintrice had a colt by Vital Equine (IRE) last year but was not covered.
