Bellatrix Star set for Doveton Stakes return after career-threatening injury

Bellatrix Star, last year’s Coolmore Stud Stakes runner-up, is set to make an unlikely return to the racetrack.

The Fortuna Racing-owned mare by Star Witness, who is trained by Mark Walker at Cranbourne, suffered a freak accident when she reared while exiting the swimming pool in January and fractured her neck.

Connections were consigned to the fact that she would not race again but a scan showing Bellatrix Star had made a full recovery saw Walker and Fortuna’s John Galvin put her back into training at Te Akau’s Australian stable.

Given two hit-outs in November, firstly in a jump out at Cranbourne before a barrier trial on the Caulfield Heath track last week, the Group 2-winning mare has been nominated for the Listed Doveton Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday over 1100 metres.

Mark Zahra has been booked to take the ride.