Hong Kong, April 19 – Exciting Catbird three year-old Green Birdie turned in an incredible performance to win the Class One sprint over 1200 metres at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
Having just his second start in Hong Kong for Caspar Fownes, Green Birdie was settled back in the field with cover by Shane Dye and at the top of the straight seemed well and truly buried in the ruck.
As the field set sail for home, Green Birdie stuck solidly to the fence eventually zooming through hard along the rail to peg back the early leaders and post a stylish neck win over seasoned campaigners King Encosta and Yellow Diamond.
Beaten a length by champion mare Miss Andretti when second in the Group Two MVRC Moir Stakes last spring, Green Birdie was transferred from the stable of Brian Jenkins to Hong Kong in January.
Bred and offered for sale by Whakanui Stud, the dashing bay colt fetched $230,000 at the 2005 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale and is the third foal of superbly bred mare Mrs Squillionaire.
A daughter of renowned broodmare sire Last Tycoon (IRE), Mrs Squillionaire is a sister to Group Three winner Palia (dam of stakes-winner Dr Green), also stakes-winner Just Awesome and stakes-placed Lady Capel, dam of Group Two winner Casino Prince and stakes-winner Lord of the Land.
Golden Slipper winner Catbird has been enjoying good results in Hong Kong with Green Birdie his sixth individual winner since the start of the season.
Catbird will stand the coming season at Yarraman Park at a fee of $22,000, making him an outstanding choice for breeders seeking an affordable proven son of Danehill (USA) with rock solid commercial appeal.
