Second Stakes-winner for Ardrossan

Media Release - Saturday April 22

Lightly raced filly Loch Katrine lived up to her breeding when she scampered through the heavy conditions at Pukekohe to break her maiden status in the Lised Staphanos at Novara Park Champagne Stakes (1600m).

Loch Katrine heads to the start before taking out the Listed Staphanos At Novara Park Champagne Stakes (1600m) Photo: Trish Dunell

Having been placed at her first two starts the Daniel Miller-trained daughter of Ardrossan went into the race as one of the well fancied candidates and when the rain came overnight, which saw a resulting Heavy10 surface for the day, the deeds of her well-performed dam Cong’er helped sway punters in her direction.

The winner of the 2012 Listed Karaka Classic (1600m) at the venue, Cong’er revelled in the deep winter tracks on which she posted all five of her career victories.

Her daughter appeared to have inherited those traits as she travelled sweetly throughout Saturday’s contest in the hands of leading rider Michael McNab, before launching her challenge wider out in the home straight.

Advertisement

Hotly challenged by race favourite To Catch A Thief for most of the final 400m, Loch Katrine found plenty in the closing stages to deny the late charge of The Matador and a weakening To Catch A Thief.

Miller had been encouraged by the first two runs from the filly and admitted he had some confidence before the race.

“Very very gutsy effort.” Miller said.

“I was quite happy coming into today, although it is always a bit of a question mark when they first cop these tracks, but she had trialled well in the wet.

“I thought up to the mile, on a nice roomy surface, that she should get every chance.”

Miller was also delighted for owners Paul Sullivan, Annie Phillips, Dave Paterson and Bruce Browne, after Sullivan had purchased Loch Katrine off the gavelhouse.com website for just $1,300.

“I got approached by some owners to seek out a horse for them and I told them to buy her off gavelhouse,” he said.

“I said to them today that if we could get some black type with her, then she is looking pretty good.

“It is all still ahead of her, as she is lightly raced and to get her maiden win in Listed company is just a bonus.

“After today you would think she will get a mile as a three-year-old and probably even further.

“She is blessed with a cool, calm attitude and that is only going to help if we end up taking her to other places.”

McNab was also taken by the grit shown by the filly.

“She got through the ground ok, but she’s not very big and is pretty good on a better track, so I made a point of trying to keep her in fresh ground,” he said.

“I kept her rolling and she was just so tough the last bit.

“I let To Catch A Thief scoot up on my inside at the half mile as that wasn’t a spot I wanted and he took me into the race at the right time.

“She definitely deserved that, so well done to the team.”

Bred by Colette Hosking, Loch Katrine becomes the second individual stakes winner from the first crop of Waikato Stud resident stallion Ardrossan, who was retired to stand at Waikato Stud in 2019 after a racetrack career that saw him win four of his nine starts including twice at stakes level while also finishing third in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa. – NZ Racing Desk

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Luberon Heads Cambridge Stud Saturday Charge
Lance Noble will attempt to add to a strong run of spring form for Cambridge Stud when he sends out five well-credentialled runners in Brendan and Jo Lindsay’s black and gold colours at Pukekohe on Saturday.
Pinhook Winners 2024 NZB Ready to Run – Churchill Colt the Star
A record breaking NZB Ready to Run Sale this week at Karaka delivered plenty of pinhook success with 18 two year-olds selling for $300,000 or more above their yearling purchase price, so let’s take a look at some of the best of them.
$1.3million Snitzel Colt Ready to Fire on Debut for Te Akau
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are confident they have the young firepower to make an early impression in the first of the black type features at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.
Cambridge Stud News
It’s been the spring that keeps giving for Cambridge Stud and it’s not over yet.
$2,000 Gavelhouse Bargain Keeps on Winning!
The Grey Goose continued to belie her purchase price last start when recording her fifth win at Wingatui, bringing her career earnings to more than $225,000.
Halo Racing Reduction features in November (Late) catalogue
Shares in reigning G1 Caulfield Cup champion Duke de Sessa, G1 Toorak Hcp winner Attrition and tomorrow’s G1 Railway Stakes favourite Light Infantry Man headline an exciting Inglis Digital November (Late) Online Sale.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Best On Breeding
The cerise, white crossed sashes and black cap of Bob Peters, Peter's Investments, may not be the once dominant force they have been for decades in Western Australian racing, but they are far from finished.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Magic Millions 2025 Magazine Online
The 2025 Magic Millions magazine is now online with a great mix of gallery images, editorial and vendor profilies.