Laurelin powers home in a Gr 2 at Saratoga on Saturday to make it five wins from five starts for owners Steven and Jessica Jell (Picture: NYRA)
Steven and Jessica Jell’s newly formed Newstead Stables LCC has had a flying start to their ownership career in the USA led by the unbeaten Laurelin, who made it five from five on Saturday at Saratoga when easily winning the Gr 2 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes over a mile and one-and-half furlongs on the turf.
Newstead Stables formed last year and four of their five runners have won and in total they have returned nine wins and six seconds from 25 starts for earnings of US$934,883.
Ironically their only non-winner is the SA-bred Gimmethegreenlight champion Gimme A Nother, but she has notched up two Gr 2 seconds and a Gr 3 second and in just four starts has accumulated US$139,787.
The Irish-bred Laurelin was purchased on behalf of the Jells by Form Bloodstock at the Goffs Ireland Orby Sale in 2023 for €160,000.
She is by the French-bred Zarak out of the Irish-bred Cape Cross mare Bari. The latter won only once but is a half-sister to Gr 2 winner Thomas Hobson (Doncaster Cup winner) and to a Listed winner.
Laurelin is trained by Graham Motion and started her career with a 1,5 length victory in a Maiden at Belmont last October over a mile and one-and-a-half furlongs on the turf, despite being bumped at the start and coming five wide into the straight.
She then ran in the Black Type Tepin Stakes over a mile at Aqueduct five weeks later and rallied well before closing late to win by half-a-length.
Her next run was in the Listed Memories Of Silver Stakes over the same course and distance on April 27 this year and from draw one she had to come from the tail of the field but got up by a neck.
In her next start on 27 June in the Black Type Penn Oaks over a mile at Penn National she came four wide off the bend and under a drive won by one-and-a-quarter lengths.
On Saturday she was second favourite behind Gr 1 Belmont Oaks third-placed Opulent Restraint (Dubawi).
Laurelin is a striking filly with plenty of substance and jumping from the widest draw in the six horse field she found a one out and two back position with cover provided by Opulent Restraint, who was racing on the quarters of the pacemaker. She moved around the front pair on the final turn and ran on to win easily by 1,75 lengths from a running on Evershed with Opulent Restraint a lucky third as the next best runner Go Go Boots was hampered late. Listed winner and Gr 2 runner up Totally Justified was fifth and Gr 3 winner Sigh No More was beaten 3,75 lengths in last place.
Kendrick Carmouche has ridden Laurelin in all of her starts and her career earnings are now US$571,250.
Newstead Stables other winners have been Brazilian-bred For Flying, Kentucky-bred Royal Wintour and British-bred Marian Cross, all trained by Graham Motion.
For Flying, who is by Drosellmeyer out of the Brazilian-bred Elusive Quality mare Table Mountain, is a five-year-old mare now and this stalwart has had a Gr 3 second and a Gr 3 fourth this year for Newstead, having had two Allowance claiming victories for them last year. She was a Gr 1 winner in Brazil when owned by Haras Old Friends, who also bred her.
Royal Wintour is by Demarchelier out of Royal Academy mare Quiet Royal and was purchased for US$95,000 by Form Bloodstock at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. June 2YOs & Horses of Racing Age Sale 2023. This four-year-old filly has won once in six starts and has had two seconds.
Marian Cross (Zoustar (AUS) – Cross Pattee (IRE), by Oasis Dream (GB)) won one race for Newstead Stables last year before being sold on.
