Sydney, June 25 – Hawkesbury trainer Terry Croft celebrated a metropolitan success at Canterbury on Wednesday when his progressive Testa Rossa mare Catseye Surprise saluted at her first run back from a spell.
Tuned up with a recent barrier trial fourth behind Group I winner Steps in Time, Catseye Surprise enjoyed a good run for Mitchell Bell from gate one before breaking through to score by a long head in the Benchmark 75 event over 1100 metres.
Passed in by Yarraman Park at the Magic Millions Session Five Sale shy of her $20,000 reserve, she was later sold privately to Terry Croft and has won three races from 17 starts and over $90,000 in prizemoney.
Catseye Surprise is the first foal of Catseye Beach, a metropolitan winning half-sister by Catbird to the dams of Group winners Impaler and Fair Trade.
Further back it’s the Cotehele House (GB) branch of the Eight Carat (GB) family that has produced Group I winners Danewin, Emerald Dream and leading sire Commands.
The current yearling from Catseye Beach, a filly by Magic Albert, was bought by Terry Croft from the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale Summer Book for $18,000, so he will be hoping she turns out as well as Catseye Surprise!
