Melbourne, February 23 – Quality Catbird mare Catechuchu returned to the winner’s circle at Caulfield on Saturday exactly 12 months to the day after beating Haradasun last year in the Group Three MRC Schweppes Cup.
This time around she was taking on a big field of mares in the Group Three MRC Mannerism Stakes and emerged victorious after being ridder forward from a good gate by Craig Williams.
Catechuchu stormed to a good lead half way down the straight and then held off a determined bid from stablemate Translate to score by a long neck with Brom Felinity two lengths back in third place.
“The good gate made all the difference today as last start she drew wide and had to go back,” said winning trainer David Hayes.
“She beat Haradasun on this day last year so lightning can strike twice!”
Catechuchu has been a sensational investment for her large group of owners banking $641,062 in winning five races and placing seven times from 21 starts.
Purchased by renowned judge Mark Pilkington for $50,000 from the draft of Collingrove Stud at the 2005 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Catechuchu is from the Dahar (USA) mare Noble Fleur, a half-sister to Group Three winner Toy Image and stakes-winner and stakes producer Lucky Witch.
Her two year-old full sister (Cinnamon Bells) was sold by Swettenham Stud at the 2007 Magic Millions Yearling Sale for $410,000 to international agent Adrian Nicoll, which was a record price for a Catbird yearling sold at public auction.
A popular fixture at Yarraman Park until his premature death last year, Catbird also featured in the Group One MRC Blue Diamond Stakes for two year-olds with classy filly Burgeis doing best of the fairer sex in finishing third to top colts Reaan and All American.
A bold chestnut with striking white markings, the Tony Vasil trained Burgeis charged home to grab third beaten a long neck and a long head in a gallant performance.
Raced by Frank Tagg’s Arch of Gold Syndicate, Burgeis was purchased by Aquanita Racing for $160,000 at the 2007 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the draft of Lustre Lodge and was their only entry in the sale, also the only entry for her Golden Slipper winning sire Catbird.
Burgeis is the fourth foal of the good metropolitan winner Grand Performance, a half-sister by Palace Music (USA) to Golden Slipper winner and promising young sire Stratum.
Ill-fated Catbird has two yearlings for the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, 16 for Magic Millions and three for Inglis Easter.
