Sydney, December 8 – Lightly raced Catbird gelding Lively Bird came to town for the first time on Thursday night at Canterbury and departed a winner, getting home by a nose as 4/6 favourite in the restricted event for three-year olds over 1250 metres.
In a race decimated by scratchings, the Kris Lees trained Lively Bird jumped swiftly and crossed to lead on the fence before being taken on by another runner. To his credit Lively Bird repelled the challenge on straightening and then withstood a late dive from runner-up Lousianna Flyer to gain a narrow verdict.
Lively Bird has now won two of three starts, finishing a half head second at Wyong in between his five-length debut win at Gosford and this first metropolitan success.
Retained to race by his breeder, Lively Bird is the fourth foal of the Rory’s Jester mare Momoco a proven producer from the family of Victorian Derby winner Handy Proverb.
Super consistent sire Catbird has already sired 40 winners of more than $1.2 million in prizemoney this season including stakes horses Cateclipse, Catechuchu, Mimidae and Coincidental.
Buyers at Magic Millions 2007 can look forward to a plentiful selection of yearlings by Catbird with some 31 youngsters catalogued over all sessions.
Yarraman Park will offer half a dozen superb yearlings by Catbird in the select first four sessions: a full brother to Group Two winner Diego Garcia; the first foal (colt) of stakes-winning mare Amphritite; a half-brother to stakes-winner Stormcat Academy; a filly from stakes-winner Eyes to Spy; a full sister to Group Two placed Star Cat; and a filly from Group Two placed Lady Lexus.
