One To Watch - Moonee Valley

Mark Smith - Friday February 7

Vendors of the 15 lots by Shooting To Win catalogued for Inglis Classic Yearling Sale received a fillip when the Henry Dwyer trained filly Ms Catherine stayed perfect at two for two when she gave her rivals a thumping by upwards of four and a half lengths over 1000 metres at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

The final leg of a three-timer for Georgina Cartwright, Ms Catherine led with her ears pricked and when asked to flatten out she did so in the manner of a very good horse.

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Under a minimum of urging she came clear to defeat the Toronado (IRE) filly Mariamia by four and a half lengths with the Written Tycoon filly La Zola a further three-quarter of a length back in third.

The daughter of Shooting To Win was the subject of a sustained betting plunge, firming from $7.50 to $4.40.

At her career debut on November 28, Ms Catherine ran out a comfortable length and a half winner and she took another big step here which has trainer Henry Dwyer eying off a black-type at her next start.

“She’s a pretty fast filly and she has always shown us a fair bit,” Dwyer said.

“We’ve always fought she is a blinkers horse – it’s weird to thing that a horse that goes so quick I’d put blinkers on but you see her coming around the side she pricked her ears and shied at something. She had a gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday and veered out about five horses when she got to the winning post on the course proper.

“She still has a lot more to give once there is something to go with her. I don’t know where the ceiling is but we will try and get some black-type with her.

“It’s great to train a winner in town for Tony and Joe Bongiorno who have had four generations of this family so it’s good to get a nice filly for them.

“There’s a 1200m fillies stakes race her in two weeks. Stretching out to 1200m might be a bit of a query but you’ve got to do it for a bit of black-type.”

Ms Catherine is the fifth winner from six to race out of the Bongiorno family’s crack race mare Lucky Diva whose 11 wins included the Group III MRC Hyderabad Stakes.

A daughter of Sadler's Wells and Fairy King’s three-quarter brother Perugino (USA), Lucky Diva is a sister to the Listed stakes-winner Gina Lollawitcha and a half-sister to Group III winner and Group 1 Sydney Cup third Spirit Of Westbury and Listed winner Duke Of Westbury.

Lucky Diva foaled a full-sister to Ms Catherine last spring and was bred back to Shooting To Win’s brother Deep Field.

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Race Result - Jason Gilpin Memorial (Bm64) 1000m

Moonee Valley Track: Good(3) Time: 0:58.54
1
Ms Catherine
- 3f Shooting To Win (AUS) x Lucky Diva (AUS) (Perugino (USA))
Tnr: Henry Dwyer Rdr: Ms G Cartwright 57.5
2
4.5
Mariamia
- 3f Toronado (IRE) x Quinta Lago (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Shane Stockdale Rdr: Thomas Stockdale 57.5
3
5.3
La Zola
- 3f Written Tycoon (AUS) x Singapore Sling (AUS) (Starcraft (NZ))
Tnr: Ms C Alderson Rdr: Craig Williams 59
4
5.4
Strike Celebration
- 3f Excelebration (IRE) x Silver Strike (AUS) (Bel Esprit (AUS))
Tnr: Nick Ryan Rdr: Liam Riordan 58.5
5
6.2
Statement Of Faith
- 3f Jimmy Creed (USA) x Ava's Delight (AUS) (Artie Schiller (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Michael Poy 57.5
6
6.3
Hint Of Mint
- 3f Delago Deluxe (AUS) x Cinnamon Bells (AUS) (Catbird (AUS))
Tnr: Andrew Noblet Rdr: Jamie Kah 61.5
7
6.5
Chica Bonita
- 3f Statue Of Liberty (USA) x Shu' Shu' Lara (AUS) (Shagny (USA))
Tnr: M C Kent Rdr: Beau Mertens 59
8
6.7
Dissedge
- 3f Dissident (AUS) x Alternative Edge (AUS) (Rory's Jester (AUS))
Tnr: C D Widdison Rdr: Fred W Kersley 58.5
9
6.8
Paris
- 3f Snitzel (AUS) x Court (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: Anthony Freedman Rdr: D Oliver 60
10
6.9
Mockery
- 3f Verrazano (USA) x Madoni (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: John McArdle Rdr: D W Stackhouse 61
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