Lindsay Park’s Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes winning filly Catchy will likely head towards her next Group 1 target during the spring via the Danehill Stakes 2017, bypassing a Caulfield run this weekend.
Catchy will contest the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington as a next point of call. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos
The daughter of Fastnet Rock made her three-year-old debut on August 19 when runner-up as the narrowly beaten favourite behind Crown Witness in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m).
It was the first start for the Group 1 champion since she failed to beat home any of her rivals crossing 16th to She Will Reign in Sydney’s Golden Slipper Stakes in the mud back in late March.
Catchy is nominated for plenty of upcoming elite level targets including a run against the boys on October 14 in the Group 1 $2 million Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m).
She was originally nominated for a lead-up start returning to Caulfield Racecourse this Saturday in the Group 3 $150,000 H.D.F. McNeil Stakes (1200m).
Connections have since confirmed however that Catchy won’t be accepted for the Melbourne sprint on Memsie Stakes Day and instead saved for a possible run down the Flemington straight on September 16 in the Group 2 $200,000 Danehill Stakes (1200m).
“We’re looking at the Atlantic Jewel on the ninth at Moonee Valley, or a week later for the Danehill Group 2 at Flemington,” the filly’s owner/breeder Rob Crabtree told RSN on Tuesday morning.
“[Trainer] David [Hayes] said this morning he’d prefer the Danehill. I said, ‘Why? She’s already won at Moonee Valley for us’.
“He said, ‘Well at some stage you’ve got to run at Flemington, you’ll need some experience at Flemington’.
“He’s a pretty good thinker, David. Not just a good trainer, he’s a good, quiet thinker. At this stage I’d say we’re leaning towards the Danehill.”
Catchy won all four of her opening career starts before her Golden Slipper flop, including a successful debut over 1000m at Moonee Valley last December.
Plan B, the Atlantic Jewel Stakes, is a Listed 1200m sprint held on Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes Day.
Jockey Blake Shinn put Catchy through her paces on Tuesday morning with a strong piece of work at Euroa, his first time aboard the $1.12 million earner.
With Catchy a confirmed non-runner, futures HDF McNeil Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au has opened right up and is now led by Ciaron Maher’s undefeated colt Merchant Navy ($3).
Other early fancies in the all-in HDF McNeil Stakes odds include Godolphin’s The Rosebud third placegetter Trekking and Caulfield Guineas hope Hualalai for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott.
Royal Symphony for Tony McEvoy meanwhile remains the clear $6 early favourite in Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas betting followed by Catchy ($11) and Team Snowden’s San Domenico winner from last Saturday Pariah ($11).
To back Catchy next start, to access all the weekend’s best racing odds and for the top Group 1 futures betting markets over the spring visit Ladbrokes.com.au today.
