Catkins is currently available at 2015 Millie Fox Stakes odds of $1.90 and trainer Chris Waller is confident that the talented mare will prove tough to beat, but he is wary about the threat posed by the resuming Avoid Lightning.
Chris Waller rates Avoid Lightning (pictured) the major danger to Catkins in the 2015 Millie Fox Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart
Catkins returned to racing with a narrow win over Lilliburlero in the Group 2 New South Wales Thoroughbred Breeders Classic (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on February 7 and has been well-backed to deliver Waller his fourth straight win in the Millie Fox Stakes after he won the previous three editions with the retired Red Tracer.
Avoid Lighting is currently on the second line of Millie Fox Stakes betting markets at a quote of $3.60 and while Waller is hopeful that Catkins will be tough to beat this weekend, he admitted that Avoid Lightning may be a more talented horse then his star mare.
“I guess it all depends on how forward Avoid Lightning is because she is a very good horse and is probably equal to Catkins, some days better,” Waller said.
“Our horse has come back really well.
“She has an awkward gate in seven, but she makes her own luck and she will be hard to beat.”
Avoid Lightning took out the Group 3 Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) before she finished second in the Group 2 Silver Sapphire Stakes (1200m) during the 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival and she went on to take out the Listed June Stakes (1100m) ahead of a close third place finish behind Cosmic Endeavour in the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) in Brisbane.
Trainer Les Bridge gave Avoid Lightning just one race start during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival and she took out the Group 3 The Nivision (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 18 before she returned to the spelling paddock.
Avoid Lightning made her first appearance of her autumn campaign with a credible fourth in a barrier trial over 1000 metres at Royal Randwick on February 2 and she worked home strongly under heavy hold when second behind Kirramosa in a trial at the same venue on February 10.
Catkins has been included in the nominations for the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m), Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) and Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m), while Avoid Lightning will likely follow a similar path during the 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival to what she did 12 months ago.
