Stellar Wind will resume training soon to gear up for 2016

Stellar Wind, a game second to Stopchargingmaria in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland on Oct. 30, is nearing a return to training after a brief rest, owner Kosta Hronis said on Friday.

Trained by John Sadler, Stellar Wind has remained at Santa Anita during her break and will be pointed for the major stakes at that track’s winter-spring meeting.

“In mid-December, we’ll start her up,” Hronis said.

The main goal early in 2016 will be the $500,000 Santa Margarita Invitational for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on March 19, with a possible prep race in advance, Hronis said.

“That’s definitely a target,” Hronis said.

Stellar Wind, 3, has won 5 of 8 starts and earned $913,200. A four-time stakes winner, Stellar Wind closed from 10th in a field of 14 to finish a neck behind Stopchargingmaria in the BC Distaff, her first start against older fillies and mares. Earlier this year, Stellar Wind won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks.

Hronis has been active in buying horses of racing age in Europe in recent months and said he is looking forward to starting Nancy from Nairobi and Tourny during the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting. Nancy from Nairobi, 4, was second in a stakes at Pontefract in England in June and won her most recent start in August at Newmarket in a handicap at a mile.

Tourny, 2, won the Group 3 Prix de Cabourg at six furlongs on turf at Deauville in France in August and was third against colts in the Group 1 Prix Morny there Aug. 23. Previously trained by Pascal Bary, Tourny was second in the Group 3 Prix Eclipse at Chantilly in France on Sept. 21.

Tourny will be pointed for the major stakes for 3-year-old fillies in 2016.