Perth, April 26 – The loss of Catbird was again illustrated in Perth on Saturday when the ill-fated Golden Slipper hero produced his second winner of the Group One WATC West Australian Derby in the David Hayes trained Chartreux.

Ultra consistent this preparation in Melbourne with four placings and a win from his last six starts, Chartreux (pictured courtesy www.perthracing.com.au ) hit top form at Ascot, settling fifth in the run before surging clear of the Kiwi bred contenders Bridgestone and Brother Mak to win the 2400 metre staying test by the best part of a length.

David Hayes’ nephew and Lindsay Park representative Sam Hayes was all smiles in the winner’s stall after the race.

"It’s a fantastic thrill to win Group One races," Hayes commented. "They don’t come along that often.

"For this group of owners and for David it’s an absolute thrill."

The race was an easy one to watch from the stands according to Hayes who praised Brad Rawiller for a perfect ride.

"It was a beautiful ride. Never during the race was there any reason for concern,” he said.

"He gave him a beautiful ride – pulled out at the right time."

Hayes said Chartreux had developed during his most recent spell and could develop into a Cups horse in the spring.

"The horse had come back this preparation and really improved. As with stayers you can quickly go from a handicapper to a Group horse and that’s what he’s shown," he added.

With four wins and four placings from just 12 runs, Chartreux has netted an imposing $468,692 in prizemoney – not bad for a horse purchased for $70,000 by Mark Pilkington from the Toreby Park draft at the 2008 Magic Millions Yearling Sale in Perth.

The gelding is the second WATC Derby winner for Catbird following in the footsteps of Cats Fun and he is the 19th stakes winner for his ill-fated sire, who sadly passed away at Yarraman Park in 2007.

Chartreux’s dam, the Bonhomie mare French Resort died last year, but was a star staying mare whose career reached its peak when she won the Group One Adelaide Cup.

Catbird also featured at Morphettville on Sunday with the Yarraman Park bred and sold Sea Coral scoring by more than two lengths for the David Hayes stable.

A $70,000 purchase for Prime Thoroughbreds at Magic Millions, Sea Coral has now won three races and is the first foal of the WA stakes-winner Amphritite.