KEY POINTS:
Roger James says he has never had a 3-year-old with Kaatoon's constitution.
Which will come in very handy as the classy emerging filly tackles the extremely strong talent in today's $150,000 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic.
James says even his three Derby winners have not had the
durability of Kaatoon.
"I've been lucky to have had some very good 3-year-olds, but none of them have had the constitution this filly has," he said yesterday.
Kaatoon is heading to the Oaks at Trentham next month and looks to be emerging at exactly the right time.
She finished strongly into second behind Keepa Cruisin in the 1600m Desert Gold Stakes and will be much better stepping up to today's 2000m.
Kaatoon not only weathers her racing well, James says she has a temperament to match.
"The more I do with her, the more relaxed she becomes," he said.
Kaatoon is owned by two of the bigger players in the game - Peter Walker and Wellingtonian Ron Dixon, a longtime client of the James stable.
Dixon had a nomination to the Windsor Park stallion Kaapstad and no mare. Enter Peter Walker who loaned a mare and the pair now race one of New Zealand's finest fillies.
Kaatoon's biggest plus today is her No3 barrier draw in a race that could well be decided by what happens in the first 300m.
James didn't hesitate to nominate Keepa Cruisin as again being the main danger to Kaatoon, despite a horrible No15 barrier.
"I guess Satinka and Insouciant blotted their copybooks at Trentham, but there might have been excuses for both of them."
It's a long time since we've seen a field of fillies with the depth on offer this afternoon.
Fillies often tend to suffer declining form after a few peaks runs, but almost all of the leading lights this season have maintained their form.
And the impressive feature of the others in today's field is that many of them look to be still emerging.
The 2007-08 season is likely to be looked back upon as a vintage 12 months for fillies. The dangers are everywhere in this field and luck - without which you cannot win - is going to be critical.
And from the No 3 gate and with the ability to settle almost anywhere in a field, Kaatoon has most of the aces.
Exquisite, Lanbrae and Calatrava are just three of the fillies likely to make an impact at this level.
Lanbrae's effort to finish fourth, three-quarters of a length from winner Satinka, in the Royal Stakes after being knocked over on the home turn was truly remarkable.
Being a filly with the ability to sustain a strong finish, she may not be as disadvantaged by her wide barrier as some of the others out there with her today.
Keffiya's third in the Royal Stakes was similarly stunning after an interrupted run.
* Kaatoon was rated as $5 favourite last night, ahead of Keepa Cruisin $5.50, Keffiya $6.50 and Satinka at $7 in a market which reflects how even the feature field is.
BIG PLANS FOR FILLIES
The Mike and Paul Moroney stable is looking to fillies Sing Song Girl and Calatrava to enhance their New Zealand Derby and Oaks prospects in the Sir Tristram Classic.
Both look staying fillies of considerable promise but the stable will get a better line on them today.
While the Oaks at Trentham on March 15 looks the obvious route if they perform well, the Derby at Ellerslie on March 1 is not being discounted.
"We see the Derby as an open affair at the moment and that was probably proven in the Waikato Guineas with not a lot between the first five of six horses," Paul Moroney said.
"They are probably the main players at this stage, outside of Mission Critical (a Moroney horse) and possibly Red Ruler.
"If one of our fillies wins or is an unlucky loser today, the Derby is a viable alternative. It's closer to home than the Oaks and you can still potentially run in both."
Moroney regards Sing Song Girl as the better prospect today.
"She has a very good turn of foot if they run along," he said.
- NZPA