Catkins heads the Millie Fox Stakes field

Smart mare Catkins is looking to make it back to back wins this preparation when she leads the field out for the Group 2 $175,000 Blackwoods Sidchrome Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Catkins will lead out the field for the Millie Fox Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Catkins will lead out the field for the Millie Fox Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Catkins has drawn barrier seven in the eight horse field with Hugh Bowman to ride again and is well weighted under the set weights with penalties conditions for the fillies and mares race.

The Chris Waller trained mare resumed from a short break to narrowly win the Group 2 $175,000 NSW Thoroughbred Breeders Classic (1200m) at Rosehill on February 7 under the same conditions and will strip a lot fitter for that outing.

“She’s just a model of consistency,” Bowman said after Catkin’s win in the Breeders Classic.

“Although she hasn’t won a Group 1, I’ve ridden plenty of mares and seen plenty of mares that aren’t at her level and won Group 1s.

“She never seems to let anyone down.

“She got to the front easily and I thought I’m going to win easily and I think she just idled a bit in front.

“I think she might have been having a lend of me at the end of it because she was just doing enough.”

Lilliburlero went down by a nose to Catkins in the Breeders Classic and will get her chance to try to reverse the decision in the Millie Fox Stakes with Glyn Schofield to ride again and has come up with barrier five.

Plucky Belle from the Peter Moody stable also finished behind Catkins when beaten just over four lengths when sixth and has come up with barrier six with Linda Meech to ride.

Gai Waterhouse is stepping last start restricted class winner Mardi sharply up in class after the Redoute’s Choice mare led all of the way to win the $85,000 Schweppes BenchMark 80 Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill on January 31.

Veteran jockey Jim Cassidy will take over from apprentice Winona Costin and Mardi should have no trouble finding the front again from barrier one.

Avoid Lightning is resuming in the Millie Fox Stakes after not having raced since winning the Group 3 $125,000 City Tattersalls Club Nivison (1200m) at Randwick last October.

Regular rider Tim Clark will be in the saddle again and the Blevic mare is certain to drift back in the field from barrier two.

Avoid Lightning has a good first up record with three wins and a second from seven attempts and trainer Les Bridge has fitted her for her return to the racetrack with two Randwick barrier trials, a fourth over 1000m on February 2 and a second over 1050m on February 10.

The other mares to make up the Millie Fox Stakes field are Chintz (Christian Reith, barrier 8), Breakfast In Bed (James McDonald, barrier 3) and Il Mio Destino (Jason Collett, barrier 4).

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.