Stephen Marsh has successfully followed a familiar path with Santa Catarina.
The Cambridge trainer produced the Savabeel filly to win Saturday’s Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1100m) to stretch his winning sequence in the event to four.
“It’s a race we have targeted and I thought we were in with a right royal chance again,” he said.
“It’s a bit of a new approach and we don’t get into the babies early on and look at these later season races, which sets them up as three-year-olds.”Raced by Lib Petagna under his JML Bloodstock banner and managed by Bruce Perry, Santa Caterina may now head to the paddock on a winning note.
“There’s a 1400m race at Pukekohe, but we might just put her aside,” Marsh said.“It’s great to get another winner for Lib and Bruce – it’s our job to get these types of fillies black type.”
Santa Catarina sat off the speed and she unwound powerfully in the straight to collar Cavallo Veloce, who had got to the front off a three wide run 300m from the post.“They went at a really good clip and that probably set it up for us,” winning rider Danielle Johnson said.
“I wanted to be in behind the speed and she showed great acceleration.”Santa Catarina had also won at her previous start when raw ability was enough to overcome heavily rain-affected going at Matamata.
“At her last start on a heavy track it was her class that prevailed,” Johnson said.
