Waller Happy With Breeders Classic Duo

Chris Waller has Catkins and Arinosa in the 2015 Breeders Classic field and the leading Sydney trainer is happy with both mares ahead of the Group 2 event at Rosehill Gardens this weekend.

Chris Waller is expecting a forward showing from veteran mare Arinosa in the 2015 Breeders Classic at Rosehill Gardens this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart

Chris Waller is expecting a forward showing from veteran mare Arinosa in the 2015 Breeders Classic at Rosehill Gardens this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart

Catkins caught Steps In Time in the shadows of the post to win the 2014 edition of the Group 2 Breeders Classic (1200m) with 55 and a half kilograms on her back and that weight has only been increased by only a kilogram in a half for this year’s race.

Waller admits that Catkins gets into the Breeders Classic extremely well in the weights under the set weights plus penalty conditions and he is confident that the Dubawi mare is more than capable of improving her outstanding first-up record.

“She is well-rated and Hugh Bowman rides,” Waller sad.

“She has barrier nine of ten, but that is not really a concern for her because she has so much tactical speed.

“She will be a bit soft late, but it is a good starting point and she had two trials.

“She should win.”

Arinosa is the other Waller-trained horse that has been included in the 2015 Breeders Classic field and she will be returning to the races for the first time since she finished fifth in the At Sea Handicap (1100m) at Royal Randwick in May.

The Dash For Cash mare has not recorded a race win since she took out the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick in October of 2013 and she failed to fire in her three race starts during the 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, but Waller is happy with the condition of the seven-year-old ahead of her return to racing and would not be surprised if she produced a more than competitive effort.

“I am very happy,” Waller said.

“She is carrying a bit of extra weight, but we have trained her differently.

“She has a horse that we have always struggled with her muscle enzymes and therefore she does some extra walking and swimming and quiet often looks a bit light, but she looks good and enzymes are good too.

“It has been a while since she has had some form, but I can’t fault the way that she has been working.

“The old Arinosa would be like Catkins, very well placed in this race.”

Catkins is currently available at 2015 Breeders Classic odds of $2 with Ladbrokes Australia and is a clear favourite from Mihiri ($8), Neena Rock ($8), Marianne ($9), Lilliburlero ($13) and Plucky Belle ($13), while Arinosa is priced at a quote of $21.

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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.