Catchy stamped herself as one of the best fillies in the country with an outstanding victory in the 2017 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield this afternoon.
Catchy showed a most impressive turn-of-foot to take out the 2017 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield this afternoon. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
The wide barrier draw ensured that Catchy would always settled a long way back in the early stages of the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes and that proved to be the case as she was more than five lengths behind the leaders at the top of the straight.
Pariah shot away and looked like the winner at the 200 metre mark, but Catchy absolutely savaged the line in the final stages of the race and she finished over the top of Pariah to claim victory.
Craig Williams had the choice between several different runners in the 2017 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes field and he was clearly relieved that he had made the right decision in the Group 1 event.
“I’ve had really good two-year-olds throughout my whole career and to win this race is great,” Williams said.
“It was a really tough choice and I think that they are a really quality bunch.
“I had the right horse and it worked out really good.
“I put pressure on her from the outset because I said that she reminded me of Miss Finland when I was first introduced to her.
“She is living up to it so far.
“Once I got into the straight I could have cut back in and followed Ollie through, but I thought that if I could get to the outside and ask her to extend she would find.
“She is a really, really good horse.”
The Lindsay Park team have won an array of big races over the past 50 years, but David Hayes said that to win a race like the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes alongside his son Ben Hayes and nephew Tom Dabernig was an enormous thrill.
“I’ve been lucky enough to win a lot of big races, but to do it with a young team behind me is great,” Hayes said.
“It is a team effort and it is great to have it acknowledge.”
The Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes win of Catchy gave Ben Hayes his second Group 1 victory – after the win of He’s Our Rokki in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) in the spring – and he was delighted that he will actually get the chance to celebrate the Blue Diamond Stakes win.
“It is a big thrill.
“Watching six horses is difficult, but when I saw Catchy flashing down the outside I got very excited.
“This is an extra special one for me because when He’s Our Rokki won the Toorak I was in Adelaide, so I missed out on all the celebrations.
“This is my first Group 1 where I have been present and it is a huge thrill.”
