Lady Catalina has finally achieved a Stakes race win on Oaks Day at Flemington.
The three-year-old filly, a daughter of Written Tycoon and out of Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Away Game, had been a source of frustration for trainer Ciaron Maher but put that behind her with a win in the Group 3 Red Roses Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on Thursday.
Lady Catalina, who won on debut at Newcastle earlier in the year, had been winless in her next seven starts while competing in Stakes company.
Her most recent start saw Lady Catalina dropped back to benchmark 70 grade at Cranbourne, where she was beaten as a short-priced favourite.
Maher opted for a jockey change, with Blake Shinn taking the ride on Lady Catalina ($20), who fought off a determined challenge from the $1.90 favourite Sequinned to win by a nose. Semantics ($8) finished third.
Lady Catalina was one of two runners from the Maher team, with Calamari Ring being a late scratching at the barrier.
“That’s racing, isn’t it,” Maher stated.
“We had Calamari Ring pulled out, didn’t get her opportunity, and obviously the horse’s health is first and foremost, and then we win the race with a $16 shot.
“How good?”
Maher thought he had been beaten by the favourite close to the finish line.
“This horse races in John Stewart’s colours, Resolute Racing, and we paid a pretty penny for her at the Magic Millions sale, $1.8 million,” Maher revealed.
“She’s out of a great mare that we trained, Away Game, so she’s justified her price now, and she had a beautiful ride by Blake.”
Shinn explained that Maher’s instructions were simple: let Lady Catalina run at her own pace.
“She was probably the first out, and I was just able to get her into that nice rhythm, and she was able to just absorb pressure and then build off that,” Shinn said.
“I was able to keep probably a length up my sleeve when the other horses challenged me and then she was able to find and just save a little bit for the end.
“She’s a beautiful filly, really just got a great demeanor about her.”
Consider the available racing odds for upcoming events.
