The 2015 Sheraco Stakes field has been released and consistent mare Catkins is set to return to the races in the Group 3 event at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Catkins will return to the races in the 2015 Sheraco Stakes at Rosehill Gardens this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Catkins has not been seen at the races since she finished a disappointing sixth in the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at the Gold Coast on June 20, but she is likely to be well-backed to defend her Sheraco Stakes title.
The Dubawi mare started her 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign with a narrow victory in the Group 2 New South Wales Thoroughbred Breeders Classic (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on February 7 and she cruised to another win in the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens on February, but she was beaten by Cosmic Endeavour in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Royal Randwick on March 7.
Catkins returned to winning form in the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 28, but she was once again denied a maiden Group 1 victory by Amanpour in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 11.
The Chris Waller-trained mare will carry 58 kilograms in the Sheraco Stakes with James McDonald in the saddle and Team Snowden-trained Bounding is set to carry the top weight of 59 kilograms.
Bounding joined Team Snowden at the end of her 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign, which included second place finishes in both the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 4 and the Group 3 Mumm Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on Crown Oaks Day, and she made her debut for her new stable with an outstanding four lengths victory in the Group 3 Theshark.com.au Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 29.
The Lonhro mare was included in the nominations for both the Sheraco Stakes and the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) at Flemington, but she is set to remain in Sydney for the fillies and mares contest.
Another mare that is set to take winning form into the 2015 Sheraco takes is Ron Quinton-trained Peeping, who returned to racing with a victory at Rosehill Gardens on August 15, while Slightly Sweet finished her autumn preparation with an impressive win in the Group 3 Carr Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on April 18.
Speedy mare Echo Gal, the resuming Fine Mist, Breeders Classic Mihiri, Marc Conners-trained Fiftyshadesofgrey and Gai Waterhouse-trained Supara round out the 2015 Sheraco Stakes field.
