Leading hoop Craig Williams has confirmed that he will ride exciting filly Catchy in the 2017 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield Racecourse on Saturday week.
Craig Williams will ride Catchy in the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos
Catchy is yet to taste anything but success through an impressive three race career so far, however Williams has partnered the line-share of leading two-year-olds including Jukebox, Property and Formality.
Williams conceded that it was a tough choice settling on which horse he will ride in the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes 2017, but is thrilled with the condition of Catchy and is confident that she is the horse to beat in the Group 1 feature on February 25th.
“It was really tough – it was a great position to be in I’ve really enjoyed all the lead-up races on different horses,” Williams told Racing Ahead.
“In the end, they’ve all done a great job the trainers and horses and we’ve managed to get all five horses into the Blue Diamond.
“We were still two weeks out and with two-year-olds, two weeks is a long time. We just wanted to make sure they pulled up well and all the other horses had trained on well.
“Basically is all came down to Catchy reminding me of Miss Finland. She’s undefeated, she won the tradition lead-up to the race and at the moment, she’s the favourite.
“Most people think that she is marginally better than the other horses and it’s not that simple or clear cut, but they’ve all got a big future and have scope towards the Golden Slipper and three-year-old careers.
“There’s no doubt that barrier draws and luck in running will be the difference in this year’s Blue Diamond.
“It’s going to be a great Blue Diamond Stakes this year.”
Catchy immediately stamped herself as a filly to follow when she stormed home to win the William Hill Plate (1000m) on debut on December 9th.
Returning on January 7th to post her most dominant win to date in the Peter Siggins Plate (1000m) at Caulfield, Catchy savaged the line to win the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) by a head to a brave Limestone.
Catchy remains a $6 favourite in early 2017 Blue Diamond Stakes betting markets with leading online bookie Ladbrokes.com.au.
