Classy six-year-old sprinter Catapulted got within half a second of the course record to win the Group Three Standish Handicap at Flemington.
The Mark Kavanagh-trained chestnut was explosive up the straight course and he spreadeagled his rivals to win Monday’s 1200m feature by three lengths in a sizzling 1:7.66.
Iglesia set the course record when he won the 2001 Standish in 1:7.16 while unbeaten champion Black Caviar won last year’s Newmarket Handicap in 1:7.36.
Kavanagh said he was confident he had Catapulted close to his best after a failed trip to Sydney last month but was unprepared for the ease of his win and the winning time.
“I was surprised he did that with the weight (59kg) but he is a good horse when right,” Kavanagh said.
“I thought we had him nearly back and it is good to see him hit form again.”
“He got them off the bridle a long way out and that always helps in sprint races.
“He’s been a fabulous horse, a great horse.”
Kavanagh is now planning to travel interstate again with Catapulted to contest the $400,000 Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast on January 14.
“It is quality handicap so we might take him up there now,” Kavanagh said.
Catapulted is no stranger to Queensland having won the Group Two QTC Cup (1300m) in June 2010 at Eagle Farm.
The Standish was his 11th win from 27 starts and his sixth at stakes level. However he had been winless since the Group Three Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield in February last year.
Michael Rodd, who returned from a Christmas break four days ago, rode Catapulted confidently in the first four and said he was “giggling” when the gelding was travelling so well in the run.
“I was pretty confident going into the race as long as the trip to Sydney didn’t knock him around,” Rodd said.
“I wanted to get cover, ideally, but I didn’t want to push him around to get behind one and do too much so I stayed out where I was.
“With the run he had to the 600 metres I was giggling to myself because he is just below spring carnival form and not many of these horses have reached those heights yet.”
Rocking Force, who won the Listed Swisse Vitamins Stakes at Flemington three starts ago, charged home late to dead-heat for second with Cascabel while Canali raced on the pace all the way and finished fourth.
Catapulted was Kavanagh’s second Standish winner with Honalee successful in 2006.
The race was run on a Good (3) track with the meeting brought forward to try to avoid the hottest part of the day with temperatures in Melbourne hovering around 40 degrees.
AAP TURF
