Brilliant
two year-old filly Catchy kept
her unbeaten record intact when scoring another impressive victory at Caulfield
on Saturday in the Group II MRC Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m).
Prepared by the Hayes / Dabernig training partnership, the daughter of Fastnet
Rock was an eye-catching debut winner at Moonee Valley on December 9 and then defeated
quality gelding Property to win at Caulfield on January 7.
Partnered again by Craig Williams as she was in her first two runs, Catchy was
eased back at the start from her wide gate and surged home out wide under
strong riding to narrowly win over Limestone, who won the Group III MRC Blue
Diamond Preview at her previous start.
Property subsequently came out to win the colts and geldings division of the
Group II MRC Blue Diamond Prelude confirming the strength of the form and was
also ridden by Williams, who has a number of options for the Blue Diamond.
"Today we rode her back with the winkers for the first time and she
savaged the line," said Tom Dabernig, who trains Catchy in partnership
with David and Ben Hayes.
"Take nothing away from Limestone, I thought it was an excellent effort
and she has got a very good turn of foot, but I think our filly is
exceptionally good.
"I'd be intrigued to see what Craig wants to do but he'd be mad to be
jumping off her."
A $220,000 Inglis Australian Easter purchase from the Coolmore draft for Robert
Crabtree's Dorrington Farm, Catchy now heads to the Group I $1`million MRC Blue
Diamond Stakes (1200m) on February 25.
Foaled and raised at Coolmore for her breeder Joy Jenkins, Catchy is the 107th
stakes-winner for Fastnet Rock and is the fourth winner from four foals to race
from Group II winner Cats Whisker, a daughter of Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi
Pegasus (USA).
Coolmore sold the full sister to Catchy at Magic Millions last month for
$700,000 to Alan Bell Racing and Cats Whisker produced another colt by Fastnet
Rock in 2016.
She was covered last year for the first time by a stallion other than Fastnet Rock
visiting Golden Slipper winner Pierro.