Classy fillies Catchy and Limestone are fighting a tight battle for favouritism in the lead up to the running of the Group 2 $200,000 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) for the fillies at Caulfield on Saturday.
Catchy, above, holds a slight advantage at the top of the market order for the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Prelude for the fillies at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
On Thursday morning bookies at Ladbrokes.com.au had the Lindsay Park trained Catchy having a slight advantage at $3 over Darren Weir’s filly Limestone at $3.10.
The two fillies have clashed once before with Catchy taking the honours in a 1000m 2yo Plate at Moonee Valley on December 9 with Limestone three quarters of a length away in third position.
Limestone has come out and won her next two starts in a 1000m 2yo Plate down the Flemington straight on January 1 and followed that up with a narrow win in the Group 3 $150,000 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies) (1000m) at Caulfield on January 26.
Catchy has also been in the winner’s stall again with an easy two and a quarter lengths win in an 1100m 2yo Plate at Caulfield on January 7.
Co-trainer Tom Dabernig, who trained in partnership with David and Ben Hayes, said the stable has added the winkers to Catchy’s race day gear and she continues to please in her work and he expects the Fastnet Rock filly to be hard to beat again.
“She is the filly that really has the form on the board. Goes into winkers for the first time,” Dabernig said.
“Taking on Limestone who she beat in the past but I think on her present form and the way that she has been working I reckon she is going to be hard to beat again.”
Catchy will jump from barrier seven in the nine horse field with Craig Williams in the saddle again while Damian Lane has retained the mount on Limestone who has drawn well at gate three.
Both fillies have had solid support in early betting for the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Prelude with Catchy firming in from $3.20 to $3 while Limestone opened at $3.60 and her price has been trimmed up to $3.10 on Thursday morning.
The Tony McEvoy trained filly Roomooz has been friendless in the betting with her price easing from $3.60 to $5.50 while Arctic Angel from the Matthew Ellerton and Simon Zahra stable has been well supported, shortening up from $7.50 to $6.
Roomooz is the winner of her only race start in a 1000m 2yo Plate at Morphettville Parks on January 7 while Arctic Angel finished fourth on dedut in the Group 3 $150,000 Ottawa Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup before winning the Listed $120,000 Thoroughbred Club Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m) at Sandown on November 12.
