KATSIDIS CLARIFIES HIS CURRENT POSITION

By Graham Potter | Thursday, March 11, 2010

Jockey Stathi Katsidis was in action at the meeting at the Gold Coast yesterday. He rides at Eagle Farm on Friday and then moves on to Sydney where he will be based for the next three weeks in the build-up to his ride on the unbeaten Military Rose in Golden Slipper.

The win of Katsidis aboard Dreamscape in the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup for the Gai Waterhouse stable at Warwick Farm last Saturday and the subsequent confirmation that jockey Blake Shinn, although still having ties to Waterhouse, would now apply his trade in a freelance capacity, boosted speculation that Katsidis might soon link up with the Waterhouse stable.

While all options are still open, Katsidis, speaking at the Gold Coast yesterday, was happy to set the record straight with regard to his current situation.

Jockey Stathi Katsidis: “Any talk about me linking up with Gai (Waterhouse) is just hearsay at the moment. So far that is all that is.

“Look, I rode that winner for her last week.” (Dreamscape, which was ridden by Blake Shinn in its previous two starts). “Blake (Shinn) and Gai have sort of quietened down what they were doing. I’m down there for the next three weeks and I’m riding Military Rose every morning, except Wednesday mornings when she swims. So on Wednesdays I’m going in to ride track-work for Gai, but that is as far as it goes. I’ll probably get the odd ride for the stable. That’s all at this stage.

“The original plan when I came back (in July last year following a prolonged absence from the saddle) was to be based in Queensland for two years or so while I established myself financially before I looked for other challenges.

“That’s still the plan but, like if you were to be offered a position like that (as rider for the Waterhouse stable), I suppose you would have to seriously think about it. It would be something I would have to consider ... whether my body could sort of take the workload you have to do there. You have to ride track-work for her as well as all the races and I’ll have to ride at 53kg probably a little bit more regularly.

“It’s something I might be able to do and it is something I would have to seriously consider if an offer ever came up but, as far as it goes right now with regard to any association with Gai’s stable, all I’m doing is getting the stray ride and riding work there on Wednesday mornings.”

*Katsidis has been booked for four rides at Randwick on Saturday. He is on Shoot Out (for trainer John Wallace) in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas. He rides Miss Gai Flyer for trainer Peter Moody in the Group 3 Miss Embrace Stakes, Kiss ‘N Chase for John O’Shea in the Listed Strada Stakes and Beaucoup for Gerald Ryan in the Listed Wenona Girl Stakes.

Jockey Brad Pengelly also makes the trip from Queensland to Randwick to partner two David Payne trained runners, More Than Great in the Guineas and Winter King in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes.

Scott Seamer rides the Roger Milne trained Captain Sonador in the Guineas. Captain Sonador is Seamer’s only ride for the day.

The other Queensland based rider at the meeting is Chris Munce who has three rides (Saint Encosta, Run For Naara and Schipper) on the card, all for trainer John Thompson.

**For the record Blake Shinn has a full book of rides on the day, including two for trainer Gai Waterhouse.

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