Classy two-year-old Catchy has continued her march towards the Blue Diamond
Classy two-year-old Catchy has continued her march towards the 2017 Blue Diamond Stakes, remaining unbeaten with a comfortable win at Caulfield.
Catchy was sent out the $1.80 favourite in Saturday’s Peter Siggins Plate (1100m) after an impressive debut at Moonee Valley last month and she backed it up with a 2-1/4 length win at Caulfield.
Corporate bookmakers have Catchy just behind stablemate Tulip in early Blue Diamond markets and they are not expected to clash until the Group One race at Caulfield on February 25.
Co-trainer Tom Dabernig said Tulip was likely to have her second start in a Blue Diamond Preview on January 26 while Catchy would head to the Blue Diamond Prelude two weeks before the main event.
Craig Williams was effusive about Catchy after her debut and was happy again with Saturday’s performance in the field of six.
Catchy settled third behind Clear Signal and Property and Williams had a few nervous moments around the turn when the filly came off the bridle.
She balanced up and strode clear in the straight to beat Property with half a length to Kedleston third.
“She’s two from two which is not easy to do and it’s testing conditions out there,” Williams said.
“She understood her job a lot better today.
“Panic stations a little bit around the turn, off the bridle, but once she got balanced and got into the straight she was impressive again. She’s won twice now without having pressure really applied to her.”
Dabernig believes the filly is still untapped.
“I thought today was potentially a bit of a test,” Dabernig said.
“They were talking about Robert Smerdon’s horse (Property) who ran second, and we were able to just sit off it, lovely and relaxed, and he (Williams) never hit her with the whip.
“She was strong on the line so I think there’s still improvement to come.”
