Catalyst conquers slow start
Boom three-year-old Catalyst overcame a scare to brilliantly win the Mr Tiz Trophy (1200m) at Ellerslie yesterday, extending his winning sequence to six.
The sprint feature for threeyear-olds was the Darci Brahma gelding’s first start since his dominant victory in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), at Riccarton in November. Despite a testing impost of 60.5kg, he started as the red-hot $1.10 favourite and was expected to outclass his opposition again.
That confidence took an immediate hit as Catalyst made a slow start, dropping out to a clear last in the first few strides. He still sat at the tail approaching the home turn.
But when rider Troy Harris asked for the acceleration that carried Catalyst to four brilliant stakes’ wins through the spring, the star three-year-old answered the call.
Catalyst bounded past his opposition and shot clear, winning in a slick 1:08.89 for the 1200m journey.
Relieved Te Awamutu trainer Clayton Chipperfield confirmed that all systems are go for Catalyst’s Melbourne campaign, which is likely to start in the Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on February 15.
‘‘That was heart-stopping,’’ Chipperfield said. ‘‘I thought we were in a heap of trouble, but what a turn of foot he’s got. The amount of ground he was able to make up in a short space of time, it’s just unbelievable.
‘‘He’ll take plenty of improvement out of this as we head towards Australia. But we’ll be putting the hood back on – he can’t afford to fall out of the gates like that over there.’’
Harris said the slow beginning was likely the result of a horse playing up in a neighbouring gate.