Bad Kitty and Mexican Mouse could well double as new characters from the cartoon series Tom and Jerry but instead the pair will battle it out at Wagga on Saturday.
One of Wagga’s biggest race days is expected to attract a crowd of around 5000 with the sprinters to clash in The Black Swan Hotel Class 2 Hcp (1000m).
Moruya trainer John Marzol will float two runners to the meeting and expects Bad Kitty and Hunting Lodge to pay for the trip.
Bad Kitty’s breeding suggests she shouldn’t be racing on the country circuit.
The daughter of Tale Of The Cat cost Marzol just $700, a far cry from her purchase price.
Her sire’s service fee alone is $33,000 and originally Bad Kitty would have cost plenty before finding her way to the stables of leading trainer Gai Waterhouse.
“She was with Gai then Barbara Joseph had her before I purchased Bad Kitty,” Marzol said.
“She has always shown plenty of ability but is a bit flighty.”
The small field of six should suit Bad Kitty whose only start resulted in a win at Moruya over 920 metres as $1.80 favourite.
Last season, Marzol finished with 21 winners and 39 placings from 141 starters and is looking to build on that in the next 12 months.
With his Moruya stables on the market, Marzol is contemplating a move back to Wagga, where he was once a publican, if everything goes according to plan.
Marzol’s wife Julie shares in the ownership of both his runners.
“Bad Kitty is quiet as anything at home and is Julie’s pet, but at the races it can be a bit different,” he said.
The consistency of Hunting Lodge has Marzol confident of the gelding’s chances in the William Farrer Hotel Benchmark 55 (1200m).
“He doesn’t often put in a bad run and the weight (60kg) doesn’t really bother him,” Marzol said.
“He is pretty tough, he is always thereabouts.”
The interesting runner is Filipa who will be having her first start for 35 weeks.
The well-bred daughter of Encosta De Lago has raced three times for two wins at Canberra, with breaks between each start.
Her only failure was when last at Rosehill before she resumed from another lengthy break with a win at Canberra.
AAP TURF
