Gold Coast, May 2 – Talented Catbird gelding Facile Tigre confirmed the promise shown in his impressive debut to make it two wins in as many starts when taking out the Listed Ken Russell Classic over 1200 metres at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
The Bruce McLachlan trained Facile Tigre attracted plenty of attention when he coasted home by seven and a half lengths on the cushion track at the Sunshine Coast when having his first start on April 18 and many punters were prepared to stick with him despite the rise in class to Listed company.
Facile Tigre jumped quickly and crossed to lead putting a break on his rivals at the top of the straight and kicking strongly to the finish to score by a length from the Lonhro filly Trim.
Bred and offered for sale by Yarraman Park, Facile Tigre was bought by McLachlan Racing for $120,000 at the 2008 Magic Millions Yearling Sale and has already won $73,200 in prizemoney for his owners who include Tim Hughes, Michael Sullivan and Yarraman Park, who retained an interest.
Facile Tigre is the second stakes-winner for the very good producer Cotton Bay, the dam of five winners including stakes-winner Stormcat Academy and smart Sydney galloper Buzzy Henry.
A half-sister by Zabaleta (USA) to Group Two WATC Western Australian Oaks winner Reflected Image, Cotton Bay has yearling and weanling fillies coming through by Yarraman Park’s young sire Foreplay, the yearling to be offered at the 2009 Inglis Scone Yearling Sale as Lot 170.
Facile Tigre is from the second last crop by ill-fated Golden Slipper winner Catbird, who passed away in 2007, his last yearlings offered at sales this year.
