By Sean Cronin
Richard Hannon trainee Orion's Belt (Starman), a debut fourth at Salisbury last month, made all for an impressive 3 3/4-length success in Saturday's Rossdales British EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes at Newmarket and became the 15th winner for her freshman sire (by Dutch Art).
The seven-furlong test went the way of subsequent G1 Fillies' Mile and G1 1000 Guineas heroine Desert Flower (Night Of Thunder) last year.
“She's a very nice filly and that was exactly what we thought earlier on in the year,” said the Hannon stable's Tony Gorman. “She was stepping up in trip today, but I think she would have won at six [furlongs] because she was always in a lovely place. Once ours have had a run they know their jobs and she has loads of options. She's a big filly, so we'll give her a bit of time. She's by a proper sire.”
In command throughout, the 15-8 favourite came under pressure when threatened with a quarter-mile remaining and was ridden out in the closing stages to easily outpoint New Vega (New Bay) in impressive fashion.
Orion's Belt is the sixth of seven foals and third scorer out of a half-sister to G2 Richmond Stakes victor and G1 Prix Morny third Always Hopeful (Mind Games) and the stakes-placed Nacho Libre (Kyllachy). The February-foaled bay is a half-sister to G2 Oaks d'Italia runner-up Must Be Late (Champs Elysees) and a yearling colt by Space Traveller.
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Orion's Belt (Starman) DOMINATES in the @NewmarketRace opener for Ryan Moore and @rhannonracing 🚀@RossdalesVets | @BritishEBF pic.twitter.com/CvCpidHdim
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 12, 2025
1st-Newmarket, £25,000, Mdn, 7-12, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:27.07, g/f.
ORION'S BELT (IRE) (f, 2, Starman {GB}–Delphica {Ire}, by Acclamation {GB}) Sales history: €33,000 Wlg '23 GOFNOF; 105,000gns Ylg '24 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $18,592.
O-Georginio Rutter & Jinky Farms; B-Mareshah Stud; T-Richard Hannon.
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