Cleo adds stakes win to impressive CV

Written by Darcy Cosgriff for racing.com

Cleo Cat scored her first stakes honour in the Group 3 Proud Miss Stakes at Morphettville on Saturday, taking her impressive career record to seven wins from eight starts.

Image Courtesy of Rising Sun Photography

The Tom Dabernig-trained daughter of American Pharaoh jumped well and was up on speed as usual, with Jordan Childs looking supremely confident around the turn.

She wanted to have a look around late, but despite this, Cleo Cat’s opposition were still no chance of catching her, as she held a length and a half on the fast-finishing Flyer ($41) and nabbed her maiden Group honour.

Dabernig wasn’t planning on running his late second-up so soon after her Warrnambool Carnival return, but given the circumstances he decided to take the the risk, and was vindicated for doing so.

“We couldn’t be happier, and today we ticked off that all important black-type,” he said.

“It was a little bit quicker second-up than I normally would run a mare, but her win at Warrnambool was a three horse race and I didn’t have to travel. It was like a trial.

“Last night, when I brought her over, she had eaten all her feed by 6pm and I had to give her a bit of a top up of the feed she was doing that well. was confident that she had travelled over well.

“The big field, the wide gate, and a couple of the fancied horses that were the speed horses in the race came out and we came out so well.

“I didn’t expect to see her lead, but she put herself there comfortably and I think she is a well above average mare.”