Catkins Headlines Golden Pendant Field

Talented mare Catkins will have the opportunity to record her second straight win at Group level after she was included in the 2014 Golden Pendant field that was released by Racing New South Wales this morning.

Catkins started her 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a comfortable win in the 2014 Golden Pendant.

Catkins started her 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a comfortable win in the 2014 Golden Pendant. Photo by: Steve Hart

Catkins returned to racing with a comfortable two and a half lengths victory in the Group 3 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 13 and she is set to start the Golden Pendant as a short priced favourite at Rosehill Gardens this weekend.

The daughter of Dubawi will carry 58 kilograms under the set weights and penalties conditions of the Golden Pendant, just four kilograms over the limit, and she has not lost a race below Group 1 level since she was defeated by Fire Up Fifi in the Group 2 Blazer Stakes (1410m) at Flemington on October 5 last year.

One of the most interesting horses in the 2014 Golden Pendant field is David Vandyke-trained Arabian Gold, who will carry 57 kilograms when she jumps from barrier two with Blake Shinn on her back this weekend.

Arabian Gold has not been seen at the races since she finished second behind Tinto in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm on May 31 at the end of a successful autumn campaign that included wins in the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on April 12, the Group 3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at the same venue a fortnight later and the Group 2 The Roses (2000m) at Doomben on May 17.

The Dubawi mare will head to the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on October 11, after running in the Golden Pendant, and could be given an opportunity at weight-for-age level in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 25.

One of only three horses taking winning form into the Golden Pendant is Kris Lees-trained Fine Bubbles.

Fine Bubbles made her debut at Group level with a most impressive two lengths win in the Group 3 Tibbie Stakes (1400m) at Newcastle on September 18 and will face a similar field, outside of Catkins and Arabian Gold, in the Golden Pendant.

The resuming Myamira (barrier eight) is the other last start winner that has been included in the Golden Pendant field, while Kiwi mare Chitz, Tibbie Stakes runner-up I’m In The Money, Team Hawkes-trained Lorna May and Group 3 winner Estonian Princess are also set to contest the Group 3 event.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.