Racing: Agent wanted Katana for himself

By BARRY STREET

Bloodstock agent Paul Moroney had such a liking for Katana as a yearling that he spent $42,500 of his own money to race her himself.

And brother Mike Moroney fully supported the idea.

But when Katana overcame a difficult No 10 barrier draw in the group two Bank of New Zealand Breeders Stakes at Matamata on Saturday she was carrying the Mike Moroney-Andrew Scott stable colours and racing for an extremely lucky Tauranga couple, Alan and Christine Abel.

The Abels have enjoyed no end of success as owners and clients of the Moroney brothers.

The first horse Paul Moroney bought them was Imax, who has won five races, been placed at group three level and is due back in Mike Moroney's Melbourne stable soon after a tendon injury.

Then came a group one winner, Kapiston, and a group one placegetter, Galroof, who both brought in big money not only from Australian racetracks but also as breeding propositions.

Mrs Abel also has shares in Paul Moroney's Class of 99 Syndicate, which races five horses, all winners.

The Abels took up the ownership of Katana after being overseas and missing out on last year's National Yearling Sales.

"They asked if they could look at and perhaps buy into three yearlings I had selected at the sales," Paul Moroney recalled yesterday.

"I told them I didn't have three. Owners had been found for all but one which I was going to race myself.

"Alan's reaction was: 'On that basis, we now own it.'

"I couldn't say no. They were such excellent clients."

The Abels' only non-winner of racing age is Vinipolis, a Deputy Governor two-year-old gelding who is held in the highest regard but is being kept in cotton wool because he keeps going shin sore.

That complaint, common in slower maturing types, almost ruled out Katana from Saturday's $70,000 Matamata Breeders' Stakes.

She was sore after her semi-final trial on Tuesday and worsened her situation two days later by banging a knee.

"That meant a lot of special care and attention and swimming instead of trackwork until Saturday morning," Paul Moroney said.

"Vet Jim Marks gave her the all-clear to race at 7 am on Saturday, but I'll admit I had my doubts [about her fitness] until she stepped out on the track and paraded as free as, if not freer than, all the others."

Paul Moroney also revealed yesterday that Katana had a psychological problem - a fear of other horses - before becoming a racehorse.

That was overcome by giving her regular exercise on a lead from a pony rider.

She came to accept the pony's company closer to her each day and finally side by side. End of problem.

For that and other signs of immaturity the Moroney-Scott team has no doubts that whatever Katana achieves as a 2-year-old she should exceed as a 3-year-old.

Her next race will test her even more than the Breeders'. It is the group one Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes over 1400m at Awapuni on April 5.

"That will be her fourth and last race for the season," Paul Moroney said.

"Even though I've never really considered her a true 2-year-old, it would be nice to think we could squeeze a Group 1 race out of her as a 2-year-old.

"Next season she'll be an Oaks filly. Everything about her points to that. "She's out of a Sir Tristram mare. She's also got the action, type, pedigree, speed and ability of a stayer."

The Moroney-Scott stable will also be strongly represented in the group one Ellerslie Sires' Produce Stakes at Ellerslie on April 21.

As opposition to King's Chapel and Maroofity from the Te Akau team at Matamata, Andrew Scott will saddle Ubiquitous, who won the listed Fairview Ford Slipper on Saturday, and the recent Ellerslie debut winner Sierra Vee.

"It's a big step up for Sierra Vee, but by mid-April she could be equal to it," Paul Moroney said. "She's more a natural 2-year-old than Katana."