Catkins A Risk In Sheraco Stakes

Catkins has recorded six wins from eight first-up starts, but trainer Chris Waller has revealed that he would not be surprised if the consistent mare gets beaten when she returns to the races in the 2015 Sheraco Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Catkins will return to the races in the 2015 Sheraco Stakes at Rosehill Gardens this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart

Catkins will return to the races in the 2015 Sheraco Stakes at Rosehill Gardens this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart

Catkins was sent to the spelling paddock after she finished sixth behind Srikandi in the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at the Gold Coast on June 20 and she was given two barrier trials at Rosehill Gardens on August 17 and September 1 ahead of her return, but Waller believes that the Dubawi mare is not as far forward as she normally is for her first-up run and she could struggle to beat the likes of Bounding and Peeping in the 2015 Sheraco Stakes.

“She is a bit heavier than she normally would be going to the races first prep,” Waller said.

“We have kept that mind that she is going to be up for a while and it is far from her grand final.

“Horses like Bounding and Peeping are serious horses and they both have a run under their belts.

“They have both drawn soft and they will be very hard for us to beat.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t win, but she is in for a good preparation.”

Catkins made her racing debut with a dominant three lengths win in the Universal Prince Plate (1000m) at Kembla Grange in January of 2012 and she has since developed one of the most impressive first-up records of any horse in the country.

She recorded her first stakes win when she took out the Listed Fireball Quality (1100m) during the 2013 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival before she suffered her maiden first-up defeat at the hands of stablemate Velrosso in the Hurlstone Park RSL Club Handicap (1200m) at the start of the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival.

Catkins returned to her first-up winning ways with a narrow win over Steps In Time in the 2014 Breeders Classic (1200m) and she has since gone on to take out both the 2014 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) and the Breeders Classic again first-up.

Waller is yet to decide on the path that Catkins will follow during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival, but he is desperate to win a Group 1 with the six-year-old and she has been included in the nominations for the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m).

Catkins is currently available at 2015 Sheraco Stakes odds of $3.80 with Ladbrokes, while Bounding is currently an odds-on favourite at a quote of $1.95.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.