Loch Katrine back in winning form

[Wandering Eyes]

It has been a while between drinks for the connections of Loch Katrine, but the consistent stakes-winning mare collected a deserved success in the Kidney Kids Founder Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa on Sunday.

The daughter of Ardrossan showed promise early in her career when winning the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m) as a juvenile, but was winless through her three-year-old season, albeit finishing in the first four on eight occasions.

She continued her honest form line through to the new season, with a third and a second finally culminating in Sunday’s performance, where she was well-liked in the market closing at $3.10.

Opie Bosson’s sole ride of the afternoon, Loch Katrine jumped positively from her wide gate (11) and travelled forward comfortably in the heavy conditions, with breakaway leader Vaantana setting up a strong tempo.

Maintaining her position wide on the course, Loch Katrine cruised up to the pacemaker and found the lead effortlessly at the top of the straight, continuing to find plenty under Bosson to hold out Hanalei Star by a length.

Based out of Matamata, Autridge has been training Loch Katrine for more than 12 months, after Daniel Millar prepared her to the Listed success.

“It was good to win a decent race with her because she’s that honest, she always tries and has been close just about every start, while being unlucky at times,” Autridge said.

“When Daniel decided to give up his trainer’s license, a couple of the owners are good friends with Opie’s father and he told them to give me a call, so they did.

“It’s great for the horse and her owners to win a nice race.

“We go into a Rating 75 now, so we’ve just got to look at the weather. There’s a race coming up at Hawke’s Bay, but it’s usually good weather there, so there is another at Matamata the week after.

“We’ll just be looking and waiting.”

Bred by Colette Hosking, Loch Katrine was initially purchased for $6,000 at the 2022 Karaka Yearling Sales, before being sold for $1,300 via gavelhouse.com to Paul Sullivan, who shares in the ownership alongside Annie Phillips, Dave Paterson and Bruce Browne.

Her Zenno Rob Roy dam, Cong’er, was a five-race winner, including the Listed Karaka Classic (1600m).

Earlier in the meeting, Autridge was pleased with the performances from both Caitlyns Wish and Still Bangon, with the latter having her first appearance since the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) in March.

During her three-year-old term, Still Bangon was a winner of the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m), and placed in both the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2050m) and Gr.3 Sunline Vase (2100m). She kicked off a new campaign in the Rating 75 1400m event, finishing four lengths adrift of a very in-form Lux Libertas.

“I was very happy with her, she came into it fresh-up and just ran out of puff against some fit winter horses,” Autridge said.

“She’s pulled up pretty well, so we’ll be looking for a similar sort of race at a mile somewhere for her.”

Caitlyns Wish finished sixth in the open sprint contest won by Lazio, bringing to a close what has been a successful winter period for the Belardo mare.

“It was another good, honest run from her, she’s gone to the paddock now and she’s done a great job,” Autridge said.

“I think she’s won three this time in from 10 runs, so she deserves a break.”

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