Waller’s looking like Catkins got milk
CHRIS Waller was at his diplomatic best when quizzed about Catkins yesterday but his bad poker face gave a few hints away.
Waller is not one to make bold statements and true to his form he didn’t get carried away when asked just how well Catkins was travelling ahead of her return to Queensland at Doomben this Saturday.
But the smile on his face suggested all was in order as the five-year-old grey gets set to finally claim her first Group 1 win this winter.
“The last six months have clearly been her best and there’s no reason to say she can’t bring that form to Brisbane,” Waller said with a smile.
“She worked well on the course proper (before the races at Rosehill on Saturday) and she is ready to race over 1350m next weekend.”
Catkins is one of Australia’s most popular mares. She has been placed five times at the top level and is a five-time Group 2 winner as well.
There probably isn’t a horse in Australia that deserves a Group 1 win as much as her and that’s why Waller is unlikely to be tempted by the $2 million on offer in the Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) on Saturday.
“It’s very unlikely she will run in the Stradbroke and it is most likely she will run in the Dane Ripper Stakes,” he said.
“If she had a Group 1 next to her name she would be running in the Stradbroke for sure but I just want to try to win that Group 1 with her and make it as easy as possible to do that. You can’t underestimate the Stradbroke and you can’t underestimate the Tattersall’s Tiara two weeks later.”
Waller claimed a modernday record 13th Group 1 winner of the season when Winx strolled home in the Queensland Oaks on Saturday.
And he has genuine chances in the remaining four Group 1s of the 2014-15 season.
Catkins headlines his Tattersall’s Tiara charge at the Gold Coast on June 20 but before that he has chances in all three Group 1s at Doomben this Saturday.
He is represented by at least Delectation and Boban in the Stradbroke, Counterattack and possibly Press Statement in the J.J. Atkins and Sadler’s Lake will lead his Queensland Derby charge.