Cellarmaster surged from the back of the field to capture the Group 3 Winx Guineas (1600m) at Corbould Park on Saturday, delivering a standout performance in the $300,000 feature race. Trained by Tom Charlton and ridden by Ryan Maloney, the gelding overcame strong competition to claim victory by less than half a length over a determined Platinum Pantheon.

The win marked a significant moment for Charlton, whose training partner John O’Shea is currently serving a four-month disqualification from Racing NSW due to improper conduct towards two veterinarians. Cellarmaster, sent out as a $5.50 outsider, outpaced the $2.60 favourite Within The Law, which failed to finish in the top four, trailing by more than three lengths. Rustemo completed the placings, finishing third at $8.50.

Charlton acknowledged the horse’s affinity for the mile distance and recent improvements, noting that Cellarmaster tends to perform better when ridden more patiently. “He’s been improving, and he probably enjoys being ridden a bit quieter – we learnt that with him recently,” Charlton said. He added that the horse showed promise for longer distances in the future.

Maloney, who guided Cellarmaster to his second Group 3 victory, attributed the success to good positioning and the horse’s ability to accelerate in the long home straight. “When we got cover, I was pretty pleased,” Maloney said. “I thought we were going to run a nice second because Platinum Pantheon flew past me, but once he hit top gear, I was delighted. Credit to the horse for digging deep and getting the job done.”

Charlton also addressed Cellarmaster’s fifth-place finish in the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic at Eagle Farm on June 13, explaining that the heavy track conditions and a strengthened field including Skyhook and Within The Law affected the outcome. Looking ahead, he is considering whether to prepare Cellarmaster for the Magic Millions late summer carnival or to focus on spring targets, given that the gelding is eligible for the Magic Millions series.

Saturday’s win adds to Cellarmaster’s rising profile and boosts confidence in his continued development under Charlton’s care.