Chris Hyland expects Katsu to bounce back at Caulfield
Chris Hyland expects a fitter Katsu to get back into winning form when he steps out at Caulfield.
Hyland is the assistant-trainer for Grahame Begg who has prepared Katsu to win four of his seven starts.
Katsu heads to Caulfield for the first time when he runs in the Take It To The Neds Level Handicap (1000m) on Saturday.
After successive wins at Sale and Sandown, Katsu was stepped up to Stakes company for his most recent outing and as the $1.60 favourite was relegated into third spot in the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1000m) on May 27.
Hyland said Begg still has ‘Black Type’ aspirations for Katsu, but that will be dependent on how he performs on Saturday.
He said one thing in the gelding’s favour on Saturday was a jump-out at Cranbourne last week, something Katsu had missed in the lead-up into his most recent outing.
“He missed a trial leading into Sandown last time and Grahame felt it might have been the straw that broke the camel’s back,” Hyland said.
“He had a bit of a gap after that but had a jump-out last week and he trialled nice again.
“That’s his normal process. He (Grahame) trials him about ten days out, but he wasn’t able to do that before his last run as the trials were called off.
“I reckon he’s going to go in there a bit fitter and he’s coming back in grade a little also.”
Hyland said the likelihood of a slightly firmer track at Caulfield will also be beneficial for Katsu.
Saturday will be the first time a meeting has been conducted at Caulfield since Zipping Classic Day in late November.
“That Sandown track last time was a bit heavier than when he won the previous time, so a little firmer track at Caulfield on Saturday will be ideal,” Hyland said.
“Hopefully on the drier ground he can let rip.”
Hyland said Katsu could return to Caulfield next month for the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) on July 8 or the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) two weeks later.
“I think he has a Stakes race win in him, but it depends on what he does on Saturday,” Hyland said.
“I would say he’s got to come out and win this and then a decision can be made.”
More Racing News
Dan Morton keeps faith with 2024 Railway Stakes mare
Trainer Dan Morton has shrugged aside Super Smink’s horror barrier draw and still thinks she can win the Group 1 Swan Draught-Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on Saturday. A layer of complexity was added to Super Smink’s Railway Stakes bid after she was handed barrier 18, but Dan Morton is keeping the...
Timing right for Port Lockroy in G1 Railway Stakes bid
He’s one of five interstate raiders and the outsider of the quintet, but co-trainer, Rob Archibald believes there is a sense of timing about Port Lockroy in Saturday’s Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot. Rob Archibald, who shares training duties with Annabel Neasham, says Port Lockroy put himself into Railway Stakes...
Royal task for Gilded Water at local debut
A benchmark race on The Gong undercard will add some Royal flavour to the stand-alone Kembla Grange meeting when a horse owned by His Majesty King Charles III makes his local debut. Four-year-old Gilded Water has been sent to Australia to continue his racing career, having started just four times in the...
Improving trio to fly flag for Godolphin at Kembla Grange
Godolphin doesn’t have a representative in The Gong, but James Cummings is content to rely on a trio of up-and-coming sprinters to carry the stable’s hopes at the stand-alone Kembla Grange meeting. Fleetwood will headline the leading yard’s squad when he resumes in the Group 3 The Warra (1000m), while Pisanello and Restonica contest benchmark...
Jason Collett hoping to find Express lane in The Gong
Jason Collett is resigned to the fact that he will be more reliant on luck than good management as he tries to coax another win out of Territory Express in the $1 million The Gong at Kembla Grange. The Provincial-Midway Championships Final victor in the autumn, Territory Express has a get-back racing pattern...
Mark Walker aims for ‘new’ hometown Cranbourne Cup
Trainer Mark Walker has a good record when in form New Zealand gallopers land in Australia. Walker’s latest ‘import’ is It’s A Wild Night who will have his first Australian outing in the Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m) on Saturday. It’s A Wild Night arrived at Walker’s Cranbourne base just over a week ago...
Railway Stakes 2024 timing perfect for Baker’s Bel
In-form mare Belclare will need to overcome a wide alley to land her first Australian Group One win in the Railway Stakes at Ascot, and connections believe Nash Rawiller is the perfect man for the job. A two-time victor at the highest level in New Zealand, Belclare joined the Sydney stable of Bjorn...
Trainer Gavin Bedggood chasing Fortune in The Meteorite
Gavin Bedggood hopes the decision to take Oscar’s Fortune to Cranbourne for a midweek gallop will pay off handsomely on Saturday. Oscar’s Fortune runs in the $1 million The Meteorite (1200m), a new ‘slot race’ that Southside Racing, a merged entity of the Cranbourne and Pakenham Clubs, runs for the first time. The former...
John Stewart eyes Melbourne with 2024 Japan Cup fancy
Goliath faces one of the toughest tasks in racing this weekend, beating the Japanese at home in their biggest race, but John Stewart is already planning his next moves with his star recruit and Australia is on the itinerary. The ambitious American has quickly become a powerful investor in Australian racing and...
Hedged poised to give The Warra rivals a trim-up
The Magic Millions carnival is the campaign focal point for promising sprinter Hedged, but trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr are hoping he can knock off a feature race along the way. The gelding will resume in the Group 3 The Warra (1000m) at Kembla Grange on Saturday, his first start...
