Iain Hyndman's Riccarton Tips 1: Anythingcouldhappn, Monorani, Frankie The Fox 2: Summer Monsoon, Nellie Bly, Abrahams 3: Savvy Lad, Albaron, Oceans Away 4: Desert Magic, Magnify, Magico 5: Don Carlo, Sensei, Killarney 6: Duke Of Plumpton, Shadow King, Remmington 7: Catalyst, Harlech, Sherwood Forest 8: Cyclops, On Show, Shanpark 9: Soleseifei, Al Haram, Duplicity 10: Billy Mav, I Am ARock, All Black Magic Best Bet: Desert Magic (R4)
Star three-year-old Catalyst has arrived in Christchurch and is expected to make a one-act affair of tomorrow's Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.
Prepared at Te Awamutu by Clayton Chipperfield, Catalyst has been installed a prohibitive $1.20 favourite for the Guineas after bullying his rivals in three lead-up races, leading the majority of competitors to concede they are running for second in the $500,000 race.
"He got here this morning (Wednesday) and I got here last night," Chipperfield said.
"There were no hold-ups and he has travelled super.
"He is as ready as we are going to get him. Troy (Harris, jockey) will give him a little quiet trot and canter (Thursday) to make sure everything is 100 percent.
"It is mainly just to check that he is happy down here and that Troy is happy with him. After his gallop at Te Aroha last week I think we are pretty much right."
A former top-class jumps jockey, Chipperfield is pinching himself as to how smoothly the campaign has gone for the electric son of Darci Brahma who has won his past four races with ease.
"We made some plans after he won his first trial back in March. Every race we have targeted for him he has just got better and better and he keeps winning them. It has been a faultless preparation."
Raced by The Oaks Stud, strong supporters of the emerging trainer, Chipperfield said the temperament of offspring by the stud's resident sire went a long way to making them good racehorses.
"Full credit to the Darci Brahma breed. All Darci geldings are like him, they are relaxed and take everything in their stride.
"Catalyst worries about absolutely nothing. His last three races he has had to travel the night before and he eats up and just enjoys it. Nothing bothers him and that is a huge asset to him." – NZ Racing Desk
