AN elated Stathi Katsidis believes Gold Edition will be handed a “free Group I” this weekend after the tough grey mare lit up the track at Flemington.
Gold Edition heads an all-star cast in the Lightning Stakes, which will feature fellow multi-million-dollar earners Miss Finland and Apache Cat as well as the globetrotting Magnus.
Katsidis guided Gold Edition in an 800m jumpout at first light and said the ironhorse would be almost unstoppable after she stormed to a 15-length win.
So impressive was the turn of foot shown by Gold Edition that respected clocker Warren Huntly said: "That’s as quick as a horse can go."
Katsidis, who made the hit-and-run trip from Queensland to be on hand at Flemington, said: "That was the best she has ever felt.
"The first 400m she was just on the bit and the last 400m I really let her rip. I think she clocked 24.1seconds for her first 400m and 21.5seconds her final 400m. She munched up the ground. The final 200m I gave her a couple of backhands and she just felt like an out-and-out freak.
"She’s ready to race on Saturday. And even though the likes of Miss Finland and Apache Cat are there, racing over the 1000m I wouldn’t imagine they’ll be catching her."
The Ron Maund-trained Gold Edition twice bumped into the brilliant Miss Andretti in the spring only to finish second on both occasions. Katsidis said with no Miss Andretti on Saturday he could think of no other reason to crash to defeat.
Huntly was of a similar opinion and said: "Gold Edition is a high-class sprinter and, from what I saw this morning, whenever she’s close to her best it’s always a daunting task for any horse taking her on. It took two top efforts by Miss Andretti to run her down in the spring."
Source: Lightning Stakes a ‘free Group I’
