Nightlign was unbeaten as a two-year-old in New Zealand, culminating in victory in the Group I Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes at Awapuni.
Joyful The Great was originally purchased from his South Island breeder by co-trainer Darrel Lang, who had raced two of the horse's brothers.
"I bought him as a weanling out of the paddock for $13,000," said Lang, who trains in partnership with his father, Roger. "Both his brothers had ability, but weren't by as good a sire as this one."
Lang said Joyful The Great showed talent right from the outset. "He's a lovely mover," said Lang. "He won his first trial then ran third in one at Te Aroha and I put him aside for a while."
Cataldo had noticed those early trials but it was the third trial, at Cambridge on February 28, which sealed the deal for him to purchase the horse.
"He really impressed me with the way he won in a fast time," said Cataldo. "And making him a bit more appealing is the fact the second dam left Super Kid, a top horse up there."
McDonald had Joyful The Great tracking the pacemaker Summer's Boy to the home turn and when he asked for an effort the response was immediate. And it was not only the winning margin which impressed onlookers, it was also his action.
Three races later Cody Cat completed a memorable day for owner Louise Weatherley when charging home down the outside to win the Rotorua Commercial Travellers Club 1400.
Cody Cat had hinted a second win was on the cards when flashing home for fourth fresh-up at Matamata and with the benefit of a 3kg apprentice allowance through being ridden by Chris Dell he proved too strong for his rivals, scoring by nearly three lengths from Get The Message.
Weatherley races Cody Cat in partnership with former trainer Sharon Johnson and Johnson's sister, Sue McKenzie. Johnson, wife of ex-jockey and trainer Ray Johnson, co-bred Cody Cat from her broodmare Bandit Queen.
Four races earlier Weatherley was also in the winner's enclosure as part-owner of Rabiosa, a 3-year-old she races with her husband, former jockey Darren Weatherley, and Barry Wright, of Auckland.
Rabiosa had been bought by Darren Weatherley and Wright from the South Island sale with a view to reselling him at the Ready To Run Sale. "But he was on the small side so we decided to keep him," said Weatherley "He's shown a bit of ability."
Rabiosa was an eyecatching fifth on debut at Matamata and produced a big effort to win yesterday in the hands of Jonathan Riddell. He unleashed a huge finish down the outside.
Meanwhile the threat of retirement may have spurred Mellow Yellow back into top form at Arawa Park yesterday. Mellow Yellow had recorded a win and seven placings from 14 starts, but trainer Richard Collett felt she wasn't showing enough in her recent starts and it was decided to give her one last start. The occasion was the Tokaanu-Turangi RSA 1400 and Mellow Yellow, in the hands of Tasha Collett, lifted her act to score a neck win over Lady Carolyn.
"For once everything played into her hands," said Richard Collett. "The owners will probably want to keep her going a bit longer now."
While Mellow Yellow surprised her connections, there was confidence in the camp of Agent Ziva in the Lion Red Sprint and that judgment was spot on.
Agent Ziva went into the maiden event with a second and three thirds from five starts and she finished strongly for rider Michelle Wenn to beat the Hastings visitor Turquoise by a length. Agent Ziva is trained by Karen Fursdon and Gemma Sliz and raced by a syndicate which includes her breeder, Glenice Dando.
