KEY POINTS:
Gavin McKeon had good reason to turn his back on a premier race day at Ellerslie yesterday - he was in Wellington with the outstanding 3-year-old filly Kaatoon.
The daughter of Kaapstad showed she has stamina and fighting qualities when slugging it out with Pretty Vegas and winning the $75,000 Lowland Stakes.
McKeon had the favourite nicely positioned outside the front running Satinka throughout the 2100m event and was tracked in every stride by Pretty Vegas.
Kaatoon was in front a little earlier than planned when Satinka stopped in the home straight.
Pretty Vegas pounced quickly but Kaatoon would not allow her to run past and kicked back gallantly over the closing 50m to win by a long neck. Pretty Vegas was two lengths clear of Princess Annaliese.
Cambridge-based trainer Roger James has made it clear recently that Kaatoon will only take her place in the upcoming New Zealand Oaks if she is in prime physical condition.
Judging by her outstanding fighting qualities at Trentham yesterday, it would take an exceptional performance from an exceptional filly to deny Kaatoon victory in the New Zealand Oaks.
Despite being left in front a long way from home in yesterday's 2100m feature, Kaatoon would not surrender, and will handle the jump up to 2400m.
Kaatoon is an exceptional follower of speed and has a blistering sprint finish and is the type of filly that can make her own luck in feature races.
