BIG THUMBS UP FROM KATSIDIS

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Jockey Stathi Katsidis might have had to settle for second place in two Group races at Rosehill on Saturday, but his enthusiasm for establishing a partnership with the Michael Nolan trained Chakvetadze and the John Wallace trained Shoot Out has in no way been diminished.

In fact the opposite is true.

Katsidis is particularly positive about the prospects of these two Queensland rising stars and is extremely keen to be part of their on-going action as can be gauged by the big thumbs-up he gives the two runners when discussing their immediate future.

This is Katsidis’ report card following Chakvetadze’s effort in the Group 3 Millie Fox Stakes and Shoot Out’s run in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes.

Stathi Katsidis: “Chakvetadze pretty well should have won. She is a big mare and she takes two or three strides to get going out the gates.

“In those two or three strides both horses either side have jumped together and I’ve lost a length-and-a-half to two lengths plus any momentum ... and then I’ve got in a nice position and given her every chance from there, but if your take into account what happened out the gates ... you know, she got beaten by a nose.

“So, yeah, she should have won so it was a great run by her ... and to back up from week to week and, you know, the trip to Sydney and everything, so obviously there is much improvement in her.

“The original plan was to only go for one race and, talking to Michael (Nolan) afterwards I’m pretty sure they are heading for a spell, but then there are so many ... or, at least, a couple of nice races for her. I reckon she is looking for the mile too, so if she pulls up alright and he can run her in two or three weeks that will also be perfect.

“With regards to Shoot Out. It was a fantastic run.

“Over 1400m he raced well. I had to give him a little squeeze out of the gates just to get into a position. As we get up to a mile in a couple of weeks time I won’t touch him early. I’ll just let him relax.

“It not that he necessarily needs a wet track ... but he does need at least a track that is on the worse side of good or nearly dead to run well. He just hits the line a bit better on those tracks. He really levels out, so for him to not be comfortable on that track on Saturday and to still run second, I’m pretty sure he should win the race in two weeks ... a good mile race ... the Guineas.

“Will I be on him? Absolutely.”

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