Melbourne, September 4 – It wouldn’t be spring without Mark Kavanagh producing something new out of the box and this year it’s Celebrity Girl, a $500,000 purchase for her trainer from the Yarraman Park draft at the 2010 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

By Starcraft from stakes-winner Dashing Granada, Celebrity Girl was having her second start at Flemington on Saturday in the Listed VRC Cap D’Antibes Stakes over 1100 metres and emerged triumphant.

The powerful chestnut sat up on the pace and travelled sweetly for Michael Rodd, before changing gear and smoothly pulling clear of her rivals to win by more than two lengths in a dominant display.

“She’s a pretty handy filly… well above average,” said Mark Kavanagh.

“She’s always shown us plenty and when she won her first start, she broke 33 for the last 600, so you knew you had something good.”

The most expensive yearling ever sired by Starcraft, Celebrity Girl is entered for the Group I MRC Thousand Guineas with her trainer confirming she will be heading in that direction for owners Trevor and Beth Robertson.

“She’s by Starcraft, so a mile should suit, although she’s quite brilliant,” Kavanagh said, going on to recall what made the filly special at the sales.

“She had a massive girth, a nice walk and had style written all over her.”

A half-sister to stakes-placed Albaicin, Celebrity Girl is the sixth foal and first stakes-winner for Dashing Granada, who finished fourth in both the Group I MRC Thousand Guineas and VRC Oaks in 2000.

By brilliant sprinter Keltrice, Dashing Granada is a sister to Group III winner Northeast Sheila and half-sister to stakes-winner Kablammo.

She started her stud career with Arrowfield Stud, but was on-sold in 2008 for $200,000 when in foal to Starcraft and carrying Celebrity Girl.

Yarraman Park sold a yearling filly from Dashing Granada, by Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) at Inglis Easter this year for $140,000 to Bruce Elkington and the mare’s next yearling is a filly by Lonhro.

Not surprisingly, Dashing Granada was covered again last spring by Starcraft and is due to foal any day.