Crown Witness held-on bravely to claim a narrow victory over Group 1 winner Catchy in the 2017 Quezette Stakes at Caulfield this afternoon.

Crown Witness and Catchy fought out the finish in the 2017 Quezette Stakes. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

Crown Witness and Catchy fought out the finish in the 2017 Quezette Stakes. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

Crown Witness hit the front at the top of the straight and Catchy flew home on the outside, but Crown Witness was able to find something when the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes winner pulled alongside her to maintain her unbeaten record.

Stuart Webb admitted that he though Catchy was going to beat Crown Witness in the final stages of the Quezette Stakes and he was absolutely delighted that the talented filly was able to beat such a quality horse in the Group 3 event.

“Catchy, you couldn’t have any more respect for a filly and to beat a horse like that within two kilos I am ecstatic,” Webb said.

“I thought that the class was going to get us and I would have been wrapped to finish second to a high-class filly like that and to stick her head out was an absolute thrill.”

Crown Witness made her racing debut in July and Webb said that he did not want to overtax her during the 2017 Spring Racing Carnival, but she has been included in the nominations for the Thousand Guineas and Webb did not rule out a tilt at the Group 1 event.

“I am mindful that she has been in the system a little while and we will see where we end up,” Webb said.

“We will see how she pulls up this week and take it from there.

“She has got so much speed, but she has also got a brain and she relaxes.

“I think that she will definitely get to 1400, but whether you would be pushing the limits in a Thousand Guineas I am not sure.”

Catchy lost no admirers with her performance in the Quezette Stakes and she remains on top of the 2017 Thousand Guineas betting market with Ladbrokes.

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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.