Schweida in light-hearted mood after upset

Stella Ombra (right) has broken a long run of outs to score an upset win at Doomben.

Trainer Kelly Schweida couldn’t help cracking a joke when his veteran gelding Stella Ombra scored his first win in nearly 28 months at Doomben.

Given the run of the race by jockey Mark De Plessis, Stella Ombra ($34) recorded his first win since August 12, 2017, in the BRC Christmas Movies Handicap (1350m).

Stella Ombra has been a consistent galloper for Schweida in his 29 previous starts since his last win but things have often gone against him.

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“His recent form has been OK and we fiddled around with his race day gear again today. That win pushes his prize money up to near $500,000 so I would like a few more in the stable like him,” Schweida said.

Stella Ombra’s race statistics now stand at 57 starts for nine wins, nine seconds and nine thirds.

“Actually I pinpointed this race for him two years ago so it has been a long-term project,” Schweida joked.

Schweida will now look for an open company race over 1200m to 1400m for Stella Ombra in the next month.