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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisment

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
More Reading...
Sensational Seven - Autumn Glow Remains Unbeaten With G1 Epsom Victory
Chasing her first Group 1 victory and in the process attempting to remain unbeaten, outstanding 4yo mare Autumn Glow did all that and more, jumping from the outside barrier to give Chris Waller his sixth victory in the $1.5m Group 1 ATC Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday October 4
Here is the full list of 119 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Inglis and Yulong Confirm Magic Time for Everest Slot
Inglis will partner with worldwide racing and breeding powerhouse Yulong for the running of the 2025 The Everest, with the combination to be represented by Magic Time in the $20m contest.
Sir Delius Delivers G1 Turnbull Stakes Win
Adding Saturday’s $750,000 Group 1 VRC Turnbull Stakes (2000m) to his Group 1 MRC Underwood Stakes (1800m) victory last start, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Sir Delius further enhanced his outstanding reputation ahead of an assault on the WS Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup.
G1 Metrop Win for Australian Bloodstock
Second in the Italian Derby at three, progressive stayer Royal Supremacy (IRE) had racked up multiple Group placings in Europe before his sale to Australian Bloodstock and broke through for his first ever stakes win when taking out the $750,000 Group I ATC The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Ms Catherine All The Way in Typhoon Tracy - First Stakes Winner for Shooting To Win
Shooting To Win’s lightly raced daughter Ms Catherine is blessed with loads of natural speed, which she used to full effect at Moonee Valley on Friday night when leading every step of the way in the Group III Typhoon Tracy Stakes (1200m).
Miraval Rose Impresses With G2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes Win
Already a Listed winner at 3 and 4, Grahame Begg’s Grunt mare Miraval Rose added her third black type victory to her record, winning the $300,000 Group 2 VRC Rose Of Kingston Stakes (1400m) in style at Flemington on Saturday.
Shooting To Win Filly Impresses on Debut
Shooting To Win has had an impressive run of late and he looks to have another likely type in the Henry Dwyer-trained filly Ms Catherine who made a winning career debut at Bendigo on Thursday.
Sires With Winners - Friday October 3
Here is the full list of 61 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Derby Options Alive For Impending Colt
Tony and Calvin McEvoy look to have a smart 3yo on their hands as Impending colt Options wins the Listed VRC Super Impose Stakes (1800m) at Flemington and could now be aimed towards the $2m Group 1 VRC Derby (2500m) on November 1.