Short course Group One races will be on the cards for star sprinter Catapulted following his awesome first up win in today’s Group Three $125,750 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.

Positioned just behind the leaders for much of the race, the only concern for connections was Catapulted getting a run over the concluding stages of the race.

When he did finally get a run on the inside of Reward for Effort, Catapulted unleashed a paralysing burst to reel in the leaders, hit the front and then surge away impressively.

The winner was the second on the card for Melbourne Cup winner trainer Mark Kavanagh following on from Rain Shadow’s victory earlier on the card.

Catapulted, racing for the first time since finishing ninth in the Salinger Stakes in late October, could run next in the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield.

“It was a good win,” Kavanagh said. “It was a pretty strong field and he did it well.”

“It was a pretty tough effort all round,” he added. “He’s Group One placed – he’s a nice horse and it looks like he’s in for a nice autumn.”

“He could well be (an Oakleigh Plate style horse) – we’ll just wait and see where we sit. We might have a couple of horses for the race.”

“The Oakleigh Plate is a handicap and he might be better suited down the line in something else,” Kavanagh added.

Successful rider Michael Rodd said it was nice to see the Kavanagh stable back in form with the major autumn carnival races approaching.

“He had to earn it,” Rodd reported. “He had a nice, soft run.”

“I knew all he had to do was get out. He’s a pretty classy horse.”

“He’d been a bit stiff running into Hay List a couple of times,” he added. “He’s a quality horse and he always tries his best.”

“He’s come back great and Mark hasn’t got him totally tuned up yet – so it’s looking good,” Rodd summed up.

Catapulted, a graduate of South Australia’s Mill Park, was purchased by Kavanagh for $90,000 from the 2007 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale at Morphettville.

His brilliant record reads out at 10 wins and four second placings from just 19 starts. His earnings have raced past $600,000.

The Rubiton Stakes is the fifth stakes race won by Catapulted, who was a close runner-up to Velocitea in last year’s Group One The Goodwood in Adelaide.

A son of Danehill’s Golden Slipper winning son Catbird, Catapulted is one of two winners produced by the winning Umatilla mare Siren Miss.

Successful over 1400 metres, Siren Miss is a full sister to the Perth stakes winng Umatune – the dam of Gimcrack Stakes and Magic Millione Perth 2YO Classic winner Jestatune.

Umatune is also the dam of the group performed gallopers Saxon Palace and Ihtsatune.

Winner: Catapulted (Catbird-Siren Miss)
Race: MRC Rubiton Stakes G3 (1110m)
Sold for: $90,000
Sale: 2007 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale
Vendor: Mill Park
Buyer: Mark Kavanagh
Earnings: $605,470
Owner(s): I Kavanagh, A Taylor, G Small, J Purdey, D Moriarty, WTR Synd (Mgr: P Gunner), W Glynn, J Gitsham & J Dollman
Trainer: Mark Kavanagh (Flemington)