by Chris Barsby
Southbound: Talented rookie Catcha Lefty is heading to Melbourne for the Australasian Breeders Crown series. Photo by Dan Costello (The Racing Wrap).
The sunshine state is still very much in the race to royalty.
Queensland rookie pacers Catcha Lefty and Get In The Groove have been confirmed by their respective connections as targeting the upcoming Australasian Breeders Crown in Melbourne.
Both pacers are already feature race winners, in fact, both scored in their respective Gr.2 $50,000 QBRED Breeders Classic Finals at Albion Park back on June 20.
And both have already qualified for the semi-finals at Ballarat on August 22 following their respective victories in qualifying heats at Albion Park on July 10.
Both pacers will head south together.
And stable together, with Clinton Welsh.
Catcha Lefty is prepared by husband and wife combination of Charlie Cini and Cristina Monte while Get In The Groove is prepared by husband and wife combination of Grant and Trista Dixon.
The Dixon’s are no strangers to tackling the Breeders Crown after winning the two-year-old fillies consolation last year with Feel The Faith plus running third in the three-year-old final with Alleluia.
But it’s entirely new for Cini and Monte.
The Village Jasper – Lefty gelding is yet to miss the board in 9 starts this season which includes 7 victories.
“We’re keen to get down there and give it a real shot; he’s the only horse we’ve ever paid up with this series and we’ll take our opportunity. He’s a nice horse and he’s qualified, we’re due to fly out on the 17th and I’m hoping we can secure a race start with him next week which will keep him ticking over just nicely.” Cini said.
Both horses haven’t raced since July 18 at Albion Park in the Gr.1 $100,000 QBRED Triad Finals, Catcha Lefty finished a close-up third behind Leos Best and Roarn in 1;54.8 after working hard throughout while Get In The Groove crashed to the track after being wiped out by Victorian filly Heavens Trend at the 300m marker.
Get In The Groove bounced back with a stylish trial victory at Albion Park last night (Tuesday) coming off the speed to win the workout in a mile rate of 1;58.6 with a final split of 27.6 seconds.
The Mach Three – Get Happy filly is raced by her breeders Kevin and Kay Seymour.
“We’re keen to give her an opportunity against the best fillies available, we think she has good ability and we’re prepared to head south and Grant is confident she has taken no harm from that nasty incident at Albion Park in the Triad Final, it was a good trial.” Seymour said.
Get In The Groove has won 3 of her 5 starts to date.
A Queensland trained runner is yet to win a 2yo Breeders Crown Final but have tasted success in the 3yo division through the deeds of Fleur De Lil and Tip Your Hat.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
