Katoon Lays Challenge For Filly Series Title
3 March 2008
A stylish win in the Group 3 Devan Plastics Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Trentham on Saturday, has seen the Roger James trained Kaatoon (Kaapstad x Toonsie by Affirmed) make a serious play for the prestigious New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series title.
At her last start Kaatoon won the Group 2 WRC Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa and prior to that had been placed in stakes-company on three occasions. Saturday's win takes her points tally to 21, just one point behind current Series leader Insouciant (Keeper x Loudenne by Palace Music).
The final race in the Series is the Group 1 Gillies Group New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on 15 March. Insouciant looks unlikely to make the trip to Wellington after a disappointing result on Saturday, so it will be left to Katoon to determine the ultimate Series winner.
Kaatoon was bred by Peter Walker and is raced in partnership with Ron Dixon. Her win was one of five for jockey Gavin McKeon on the day.
Second place-getter Pretty Vegas (Viking Ruler x Straight Show by Straight Strike) added to her previous tally to now sit on 10.5 points while Princess Annaliese attained her first points, and first black-type, with the 1.5 points for third.
The Oaks will carry 12 points for first, seven for second and 3.5 for third. A win by either Katoon or Pretty Vegas would take them past Insouciant's one point lead, with the valuable points for the placings also coming into play in the final tally.