ShamExpress’ smart and progressive daughter Catherinenz made the perfect return to her five-year-old term at Otaki on Sunday, scoring a gritty victory in the Cavallo Farms and Chris Rutten Bloodstock Handicap (1400m) for her Cambridge owner/breeder Roger Blunt.

Recording her 4^th win at her 10^th start, Catherinenz has been patiently handled by trainer Robbie Patterson since she joined his stable in mid-2023, recording three wins up to Rating 75 level, most recently seen when running third at New Plymouth in July.

The daughter of ShamExpress (O’Reilly) went to the paddock following her winter campaign and was well-backed on resumption, starting the $4.50 favourite in an even market for Sunday’s contest.

Catherinenz flew the gates under Craig Grylls but allowed Massive Prince and Charlotte’s Way to take up the pacemaking role, settling in the one-one outside of second-elect Tokyo Hot Night. Massive Prince took the outright lead and raced boldly up-front, and turning for home, Catherinenz was poised to pounce and hit the lead early.

Latrelle looked a big danger to the mare in the final 50m, but she showed her class, pinning her ears back and finding the line strongly to score by a neck.

Patterson was rapt with the performance, as he looks ahead to races like the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) and Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) later in the season.

“She’s a horse that will go into the autumn and winter where I think we can get some black-type with her,” Patterson said.  

“She was a bit short on fitness today and executed it very well, I’m very happy with her and she’s got plenty of upside.

“She appreciates a bit of cut in the track and the Opunake Cup has always been the thought with her, it’s worth a couple hundred-thousand this year and it’s on her home track.

“The Winter Cup would also be something we would look to, she’s won at Riccarton and was very impressive there last autumn.”

Out of a Guillotine mare Grey Sapphire, Catherinenz was bred and owned by Roger Blunt, for whom she has now earned over $58,000 with four wins and two minor placings in 10 starts. 

Catherinenz looks yet another upandcoming racehorse for her very successful, Windsor Park Stud-based sire ShamExpress who is enjoying another outstanding season headlined by his World Champion Hong Kong sprinting sensation Ka Ying Rising.