Lady Catalina denies favourite in Red Roses

The three-year-old daughter of Written Tycoon from Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Away Game had been a cause of frustration for trainer Ciaron Maher but put all that behind her with victory in the Group 3 Red Rose Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on Thursday. 

A debut winner at Newcastle earlier in the year, Lady Catalina had been winless in her next seven starts while racing in Stakes company. 

Lady Catalina was even dropped back to benchmark 70 grade at Cranbourne in her most recent outing and was beaten as a short-priced favourite. 

Maher produced a jockey switch with Blake Shinn taking over on Lady Catalina ($20) who fought off a determined bid by the $1.90 favourite Sequinned to score by a nose with Semantics ($8) in third place. 

Lady Catalina was one of two runners the Maher team saddled with Calamari Ring being a late scratching at the barrier. 

"That's racing, isn't it," Maher said. 

"We had Calamari Ring pulled out, didn't get her opportunity, and obviously the horse's health is first and foremost, and then we win the race with a $16 shot. 

"How good?" 

Maher thought he had been overhauled by the favourite close to the line. 

"This horse races in John Stewart's colours, Resolute Racing, and we paid a pretty penny for her at the Magic Millions sale, $1.8 million," Maher said. 

"She's out of a great mare that we trained, Away Game, so she's justified her price now, and she had a beautiful ride by Blake." 

Shinn said instructions from Maher were simple, allow Lady Catalina to roll at her own tempo. 

"She was probably the first out, and I was just able to get her into that nice rhythm, and she was able to just absorb pressure and then build off that," Shinn said. 

"I was able to keep probably a length up my sleeve when the other horses challenged me and then she was able to find and just save a little bit for the end. 

"She's a beautiful filly, really just got a great demeanor about her."