Kattavia to Spell for Derby Goal

Monday, 12 August 2002 00:00

Promising three-year-old Kattavia is heading to the paddock after his impressive win in yesterday's David Benham Handicap (1740m) at Flemington.

The Leon Macdonald trained three-year-old will be aimed toward the South Australian Derby (G1) in an attempt to emulate his former brilliant stablemate Gold Guru, who captured the AJC variety in 1998.

Kattavia, an attractive son of the shuttle sire success Grand Lodge, is part owned by Gold Guru's breeder and owner Harry Perks.

Yesterday with former Tasmanian apprentice Craig Newitt in the saddle Kattavia raced handy to the leaders before bounding the front at the top of the long Flemington straight and then comfortably held out all challenges from the opposition.

Macdonald's Melbourne stable foreman Andrew Noblet said the gelding was to have been spelled after his last run, when second to the boom filly Macedon Lady.

"We were going to send him out after his second the other day," Noblet said. "But we looked at this race and thought it was a nice option."

"He's bred to get over some ground and we'll aim him toward the Derby in Adelaide," Noblet added. "He looks ideal for that sort of a race."

Meanwhile, Noblet reported that Great Glen, who suffered his first defeat in Saturday's listed Yalumba "The Signature" Handicap at Morphettville in Adelaide is heading to Melbourne.

"He's coming over on the first available transport and he'll run in the Vain Stakes at Caulfield," Noblet added. "If all goes well he'll then go into the Ascot Vale Stakes."

The gelding, who's raced by in form owner Des Pope (Rubitano and Innovation Girl among othrers), is already a Group Two winner and he's been nominated for the Group One Caulfield Guineas to be run in October.

PIC - Jenny Barnes.