News

Bauhinia Sprint Trophy to Catbird Sprinter

11th Jan 2010

Breednet - Tara Madgwick - Monday, 11 January 2010

The feature race at Sha Tin on Sunday was the Bauhinia Sprint Trophy HK Gr 3 over 1000 metres with victory going to the five year-old Catbird gelding Craig’s Dragon, a $150,000 purchase from the Yarraman Park draft at the 2006 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

The John Moore trained sprinter carried big weights in his last two starts in Class Two company when not beaten far and appreciated the drop to just 53 kg for his first tilt at Black Type.

Partnered by William Pike, Craig’s Dragon stalked the leaders and then accelerated quickly at the finish to kick away and win by the best part of length in the slick time of 56.61 seconds, his overall record now six wins and six placings from 20 starts.

Offered by Yarraman on behalf of the Cobcroft family, Craig’s Dragon (pictured as a yearling) was the only yearling by Catbird offered at Easter that year.

A half-brother to 12 other winners, Craig’s Dragon is the 13th living foal of outstanding broodmare Steam Heat who passed away in 2006.

A prolific producer, the Salieri (USA) mare left a host of winners including the brilliant Group Three winner Hot as Hell and equally smart Listed winner Flaming Hot, who were interestingly sired by County, a Vain horse from the same female family as Craig’s Dragon’s sire Catbird.

The final crop of ill-fated sire Catbird are two year-olds of this season.