Censori (AUS)
3 f Russian Camelot – Berkshire Lady by Star Witness
O: Mr D T O’Brien, Mrs J O’Brien
B: Balmerino Racing Partnership Trust
T: Danny O’Brien
S: 2024 Inglis March (Early) Online Sale V: Owners P: Lenny Cole, $3,500
W: Sportsbet Race Previews Maiden Plate, 1200m, Sandown-Lakeside, August 6
Danny O’Brien unearthed an exciting future stayer at Sandown on Wednesday when Censori (Russian Camelot) defied the stables’ expectations to win impressively on debut.
Ridden by Jamie Melham, the daughter of Russian Camelot (Camelot) jumped well from the inside barrier in the six–horse field and travelled kindly midfield, before making an inside-rail run and displaying an impressive turn of foot to win comfortably, defeating Washington Lilac (Snitzel) by 0.8 lengths.
Supergrace (Capitalist) finished a further half-length behind in third place.
“We always had a high opinion of her,” O’Brien’s racing manager Jack Howard told Racing.com. “Obviously being by Russian Camelot out of a mare that got out over a trip, we sort of thought today’d be a really nice educational day for her, and then she can step out further over time, but really pleased to see her get the result today.
“She’s been really well educated. A lot of credit has to go to the system we’ve got in place. She’s been away from home, had a number of gallops and jump outs, and she just continues to slowly step up. She’s going to be a much better horse than six months’ time and really pleasing to get the Metro win today for her.”
Jamie Melham of the filly’s victory: “She surprised me. She was really dominant. She’s still very raw and green and has a lot to learn, but I’m very impressed with her turn of foot today.”
The filly became the second winner and first metropolitan winner for Widden Stud’s dual Group 1-winning sire Russian Camelot, who was also trained by O’Brien.
“It’s our first winner for Russian Camelot in the stable, he was a special horse for us. We’ve been really big supporters of him, and hopefully this can get the caravan rolling and there’s a few more to come,” Howard said.
Censori was bred by Danny O’Brien in partnership and is raced by he and his wife after the filly was offered through Inglis Digital in March 2024 to dissolve the partnership.
She is the third foal out of Tasmanian Oaks (Listed, 2100m) placegetter Berkshire Lady (Star Witness), who herself is out of VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m) placetter Placement (Savabeel), both of whom were also trained by O’Brien.