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Quality filly Champagne Cath hit form just in time for next week's Group 1 Flight Stakes with an all-the-way win in the $100,000 Listed Bacardi Reginald Allen Quality at Rosehill on Saturday.
Champagne Cath showed her potential with a strong third the other day against the males in the Group 3 Ming Dynasty and the drop back to fillies class was enough to see her get back in the winner's stall.
Confidently ridden by Jay Ford, Champagne Cath jumped well from a wide draw and Ford edged his filly forward until she took the lead rounding the first turn. From that point they set a moderate tempo which left enough in the tank for the challengers.
With 300m to go the challengers loomed large but Ford went for his filly and she responded, finding a length and doing enough to hold on for a determined win.
On the line the margin was a half-length to More Than Faith with a further long neck to She's Bella in third. The overall time was 1.24.71 with the last 600m run in 34.63sec.
“It's a relief,” Waller said. “We all knew how much ability she had, she has done a great job and we will see how she pulls up.
“It is a credit to Jay Ford, the way he rides her, he doesn't fight her, he just lets her free roll. He had a couple of easy sections then put his foot down before the turn, so it was a good, game ride.
“I think she will be much better in the autumn, the Flight Stakes is in a week, it's in our backyard.
“I think of Royal Descent, who is a lot like this mare, who was struggling for confidence leading into the Oaks, then got a win and came out in the Oaks and won by 10 lengths.”
“I really like her,” Ford said. “She is a really good horse but she just doesn't know it yet.
“Obviously thanks to Chris for keeping me on, I got to ride her the other day and I thought she went great. I asked him if I could ride him again and he stuck with me.
“We got away with soft sectionals throughout the race, from the 500m I clicked her up and clicked her up to let her keep improving and she dug deep when they pressured her and she won well.”