Melbourne, October 16 – Under-rated Catbird colt Green Birdie ran the race of his life at Caulfield on Saturday, chasing home seasoned Group One winner Miss Andretti into second place in the Group Two MRC Schillaci Stakes over 1000 metres.
Trained by ex-New Zealander Brian Jenkins, Green Birdie has had six starts for two wins and two placings earning $122,650 for the Magus Equine Racing Syndicate managed by Willie Leung.
Jenkins has a big opinion of the colt, which will be aimed at the newly elevated to Group One status VRC Ascot Vale Stakes over 1200 metres at Flemington on Derby Day.
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 Three winner Casino Prince and stakes-winner Lord of the Land.
Green Birdie is one of four Catbird colts that made over $200,000 in 2005, the others including Group Two winner Diego Garcia and the stakes-winner Harb.
Catbird also figured at Rosehill on Saturday when his unheralded daughter Mimidae outgunned the raging hot favourite Hoystar to score her third win from 11 starts in the Class Three event over 1200 metres.
Mimidae was bought by Luskin Park for $120,000 at the 2004 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, secured from the draft of Stratheden Stud.
She is the fifth foal of the Caerleon mare Sufuf (GB) (now deceased), a daughter of Sir Tristram (IRE) stakes-winner Deira.
Golden Slipper winner Catbird is enjoying a good run this spring, although his current flagbearer Cateclipse has now gone for a short break.
The Gai Waterhouse trained gelding notched a winning hat-trick when taking the Group Three AJC Craven Plate over 2000 metres and will now be set for races such as the Group Three Hawkesbury Gold Cup and Group Two AJC Villiers Stakes in December.