Waller Happy With Wiggle Stakes Contenders

Chris Waller has both Catkins and She’s Clean in the 2014 Wiggle Stakes at Warwick Farm on Saturday and is happy with the condition of both mares heading into the Group 3 event.

Catkins returned to the races with a narrow victory over Steps In Time in the the Breeders Classic at Rosehill Gardens on February 15.

Catkins returned to the races with a narrow victory over Steps In Time in the the Breeders Classic at Rosehill Gardens on February 15. Photo by: Steve Hart

Catkins was narrowly denied a maiden Group 1 victory by stablemate Red Tracer in the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival and has clearly returned to the races in a similar vein of form; scoring a tough win over Steps In Time and White Sage in the Group 2 Breeders Classic (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on February 15.

Waller believes that Catkins has the ability to breakthrough for a win at the highest level of racing during the 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival and is confident that she will perform well in the Wiggle Stakes this weekend.

“Catkins won well first-up and she has done everything right since then,” Waller said.

“She has drawn well and the race conditions look to suit.”

She’s Clean is chasing her first race win since she took out the Listed June Stakes (1200m) in June last year and she returned to the races with a disappointing sixth in the Group 3 Triscay Stakes (1200m); with the Redoute’s Choice mare unable to show her usual acceleration after being outpaced carrying a big weight in the early stages of the race.

Waller has been happy with the work of She’s Clean since her first-up failure and is confident that she will produce an improve effort at Warwick Farm tomorrow.

“The race conditions did not suit She’s Clean first-up at all,” Waller said.

“It was a deadset sprint from the outset and she likes to travel comfortably and then sprint, but she was chasing a long way from home the other day.

“She is going well enough and hopefully the 1400 metres will suit her on Saturday.”

Catkins is currently a clear favourite in 2014 Wiggle Stakes betting markets at odds of $2.50, but it has been Robert Heathcote-trained Fire Up Fifi, who resumed with a sixth place finish in the Listed Falvelon Quality (1200m) at Eagle Farm on February 22, that has been the best backed runner.

She’s Clean is currently on the third line of betting at Wiggle Stakes odds of $8.

About The Author

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.