Hong Kong, March 14 – A former sizzling speedster who chased Miss Andretti home in the Group Two MRC Schillaci Stakes as a three year-old over 1100 metres, Catbird four year-old Green Birdie has been reinvented as a miler / middle distance star in Hong Kong and will take his place in the Group One $HK16 million Mercedes Benz Hong Kong Derby this Sunday.
A last start winner of the Hong Kong Derby Trial HK Gr 2 over 1800 metres for leading trainer Caspar Fownes, Green Birdie is in peak form for a tilt at what is regarded as the pinnacle of racing in Hong Kong.
“Any owner, trainer or jockey will agree that Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby is the ‘Race of a Lifetime’. A horse gets only one opportunity and only the best can participate in the race," explained Mr William A Nader, the Club’s Executive Director of Racing.
"Recent editions of the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby have produced international champions and memorable finishes. It is one of the most lucrative Derbys in the world and it is a race that dates back to 1873."
A versatile sire of tough and talented racehorses, Green Birdie’s sire Catbird was a stalwart for Yarraman Park Stud until his premature death last year and the Mitchell family would love nothing more than to see him figure with Green Birdie on Sunday.
“Green Birdie is a high class horse who has struck form at the right time and wouldn’t it be great to see Catbird get a big winner like that in Hong Kong,” said Harry Mitchell.
The current crop of yearlings by Catbird are his second last that will be offered for sale and Yarraman Park will be taking half a dozen of them to the Gold Coast where he has always been an ideal fit for the Magic Millions middle market, which is the happy hunting ground for syndicators, trainers and the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
The first yearling by Catbird to go into the ring for Yarraman will be Lot 35, a stylish bay or brown filly from good producer Military Call, the dam of four foals to race all winners highlighted by Group Two place-getter Magic Jet, who was first past the post in the Group Two MVRC Stutt Stakes, but then relegated in a controversial protest.
The filly is also bred on a notable cross being from a daughter of the Sir Tristram (IRE) sire Military Plume. Catbird over Sir Tristram (IRE) line mares has yielded five of his 12 stakes-winners including the Group One winner Cats Fun.
Fans of Gai Waterhouse’s former memorable Catbird galloper Cateclipse will be quick to have a look at Lot 240, a powerful flashy chestnut colt with four white feet.
A full brother to metropolitan winners Miss Meerkat and Muzzio from the well related import Sakhalin (USA), whose Redoute’s Choice colt last year made $700,000, this is a colt that looks as close to a sure fire winner as you could find.
A dashing bay is Lot 626 from the very good producer Cotton Bay, the dam of four foals to race all winners led by the smart stakes-winning sprinter Stormcat Academy.
This fellow is also a full brother to the good Sydney metropolitan performer Buzzy Henry and four-time Hong Konng winner Ging Ho, so again a colt that has every box ticked as a winner of the future.
