Catkins makes one act affair of Emancipation Stakes

Trainer Chris Waller will step Catkins back up to Group 1 company after the wet track specialist made it an one act affair in winning the Group 2 $175,000 Ascend Sales Trophies Emancipation Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill today.

Catkins scores easy win in Emancipation Stakes

Catkins scores easy win in Emancipation Stakes. Photo by Steve Hart.

Catkins started the very short priced $1.45 favourite and Hugh Bowman always had the grey mare in control of the race before running away in the straight to score an untroubled one and a half length win over Sharnee Rose ($11) and Angel Of Mercy ($26).

Catkins was coming off a third to Steps In Time in the Group 1 $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on March 22 and is likely to clash again with the Joe Pride trained mare in the Group 1 $1m Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Randwick in two weeks.

“She is doing a great job, fantastic,” Waller said.

“The Doncaster is one of the toughest Group 1s in the country and she can take on her own sex at weight-for-age a week later for $1 million.”

“That would be my recommendation to the owners but we have until Tuesday to make our mind up.”

Even though Catkins’ wet track record now stands at two from two on the heavy and two from three on the slow, Bowman wasn’t that convinced that the Dubawi mare was at her best on the heavy track.

“I must admit that when I gave her a kick I wasn’t aware of where the others were,” Bowman said.

“It’s a bit wet for her liking. Slow ground is fine but it is a genuine heavy ground and when I let her off the bridle I felt her just dip and dive a little bit in that going so.”

“It wasn’t as sweet for me as it was for everyone else. But look she is a wonderful mare and I can’t tell you what a thrill it is to win for the Ingham family here on this wonderful race day in Sydney and obviously Chris Waller who is a great supporter.”

Catkins was Waller’s second winner for the day after Junoob took out the Group 3 $150,000 tab.com.au Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) with Blake Shinn in the saddle.

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.