Promising Catbird gelding Extend was sent out a hot favourite for the open 2000 metre event at Flemington on Saturday and cruised home to make it five wins from nine starts.
Handled patiently by Melbourne Cup winning owner Lloyd Williams, Extend looks to have a bright future and my possibly have a crack at the Group two MRC Sandown Classic next Saturday.
“Lloyd said that if Extend won and won well today he would give the Sandown Classic a great deal of thought,” said stable foreman Jon Sadler.
“Lloyd will make up his mind later in the week.”
Bred and offered for sale by Twin Palms Stud, Extend was secured for $100,000 at the 2005 Magic Millions Yearling Sale and is the first foal of the Caerleon mare Calamera, a half-sister to stakes-winner Daltawa, the dam of European champions Daylami and Dalakhani, both multiple Group One winners up to 2400 metres.
The four year-old has now won $130,470 in prizemoney and given the depth of staying talent on his dam’s side it’s no wonder Extend has hit his straps over the staying journeys.
The last crop of foals sired by Golden Slipper winner Catbird are arriving this spring and he will have some quality yearlings on offer in 2008 resulting from the first book he covered on the higher fee of $22,000.
