KEY POINTS:
Queensland jockey Stathi Katsidis was on a flight to Sydney 90 minutes after winning yesterday's $50,000 Pak 'N Save Ellerslie Oaks on Shira.
But he'll be back on Monday morning preparing to ride Shira again in the $300,000 New World Oaks at Trentham the following week.
If you doubted the absolute class of Katsidis then Shira's win answered that question.
The 28-year-old Australian claimed in the Weekend Herald that boredom had consumed him after winning two Queensland jockeys' premierships and that coming to New Zealand to ride Keepem in last Saturday's $700,000 Mercedes Derby (finishing fourth) has provided him with a springboard to re-launch his career.
Yesterday proved that.
Only top jockeys can make Plan B on a horse work perfectly when Plan A fails.
Trainer Roger James asked Katsidis to have Shira in the first three runners in yesterday's race.
When the filly walked out of the starting stalls and settled second last on the inside rail, Katsidis had to think quickly.
He improved Shira around a few approaching the home turn then cut the bend to angle wide.
When he asked the filly to sprint he had her perfectly balanced and she did the rest to breeze past the leaders.
Katsidis had to be back to ride Chinchilla Rose in trackwork in Sydney this morning in preparation for Saturday's Sweet Embrace Stakes.
"I'm riding her in the Golden Slipper," he said at Ellerslie.
The Logan/Gibbs stable in Ruakaka can verify that the volatile career of Katsidis is probably behind him.
"I can't believe his dedication," said Donna Logan.
"All week Stathi has been running up the road, swimming in the ocean and has refused most drinks offered to him.
"He wouldn't have drunk half a bottle of wine in the entire week he's been here.
"I've never seen anyone so dedicated."
The win maintained the 100 per cent record Katsidis has for trainer James.
"I won on Hasta La Ciao Ciao in Brisbane for Roger - we've got a great record."
