Benefits of an unplanned run in Saturday's Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders' Stakes (1200m) at Ruakaka today could be two-fold for connections of rising star three-year-old Catalyst.
Installed a $1.50 favourite on the TAB's opening market for the age-group feature, Catalyst looks poised to bank not only a bonus $40,600 for breeder-owner Dick Karreman but also boost fitness levels to save an extra run into November's Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld NZ 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.
The Darci Brahma gelding shot to 2000 Guineas favouritism after a brilliant four-length win in the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) at Hastings last month, though the path from there to the 2000 Guineas was unclear at the time.
"We were thinking we'd give him a trial or a jumpout before heading back to Hastings for the Hawke's Bay Guineas (Gr.2, 1400m) but seeing as he pulled up so well we thought he could run in this," Te Awamutu trainer Clayton Chipperfield said.
"He came through the race 100 percent. I got him home from Hastings at 8pm and he had his head straight in the feed bin. The race really took nothing out of him.