Hong Kong Winner for Catbird

Hong Kong Winner for Catbird

Hong Kong, January 18 – Golden Slipper winner Catbird featured on the winners list at Happy Valley on Wednesday evening when four year-old gelding Winning Champ opened his account with a three quarter length win over 1000 metres.

Beginning swiftly from barrier three, the Dennis Yip trained Winning Champ went forward to lead and despite being pressured in the middle stages kicked on too strongly to score a good win.

A $70,000 Magic Millions purchase in 2004, Winning Champ is the second foal of the Grosvenor mare Lady Elaine (NZ), a full sister to Group One winner Captain Moonlight.

Winning Champ is a full brother to promising three year-old Turfiste, who is back in full work at the stable of Gai Waterhouse.

Turfiste made a good impression last season at two when pitched into the deep end having two starts in the Group Three STC Skyline Stakes and Group Two Pago Pago Stakes, finishing fifth on both occasions.

Purchased by Waterhouse at Magic Millions for $190,000, Turfiste has had two recent trials the latest on December 22 when a strong finishing fourth to the highly rated Baron Park.

Race plans for Turfiste are to resume in a set weights maiden at the provincials with the aim of getting a soft win under his belt to build his confidence before tackling the better quality horses.

His dam Lady Elaine (NZ) was sent back to Catbird in 2005 by her owner Stuart Ramsay, producing a filly foal last spring.