Catkins will never reach the heights of her Cox Plate-winning stablemate Winx but she still holds her own in the popularity stakes in the Chris Waller yard.
On the same day Winx made a winning return in the Apollo Stakes at Randwick, striking grey Catkins had a race day work-out with Caulfield Guineas winner Press Statement.
Catkins
Both begin their carnival campaigns at Rosehill on Saturday with Catkins bidding to defend her crown in the Group Two Millie Fox and Press Statement to run in the Hobartville Stakes.
Although the pair only had a leisurely gallop around the track, Catkins showed she was ready to compete when she stuck her head in front on the line.
“She’s a winner,” jockey James McDonald said.
“Whether it’s a trial or a race she knows where the line is and she wanted to win.”
Waller said Catkins was likely to be his only runner in the Millie Fox with Group One winner Amicus to be saved for the Guy Walter the following week.
“It makes sense to split them up,” he said.
“And with Amicus heading to the Coolmore the three weeks between runs fits in well.”
Although Catkins has not won a Group One race, the six-year-old has multiple placings and has earned more than $2 million from her stakes performances.
Among her near misses was a second to Cosmic Endeavour in last year’s Group One Canterbury Stakes and that race is again on her program.
“Catkins doesn’t necessarily head to the Coolmore,” Waller said.
“The Canterbury Stakes is there for her.”
Press Statement has not raced since the Caulfield Guineas in October and will be aimed at the Randwick Guineas on March 5 in preference to a return to Melbourne for the Australian Guineas on the same day.
Winx will step back into Group One company in the Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) in two weeks.
