Cat Noir defied a wide barrier draw to enhance her home track record with another win at Geelong.
The four-year-old mare has won all three of her races at the track and will be aimed at longer races after she charged home to land Tuesday’s Rex Gorell Volkswagen Hcp (1733m).
She jumped from barrier 12 at a start where inside barriers have a distinct advantage and notably won from barrier 13 over a similar trip at Geelong last campaign.
Jockey Zac Spain said he discarded plans to ride the daughter of Merchant Navy near the pace when she stepped slowly from the barriers which in hindsight proved fortunate.
“I had to give her a hand out of the barrier but with the really good tempo I was able to get one off the rail for the majority of the race,” Zac said.
“I popped off behind Declan Bates (on Muppet) into the three wide line from the 1000m and ended up getting a bit of cover from there onwards.
“She just towed me from the half mile, and I just went with her.
“Jamie said she was very fit, so I used that to our advantage, and she’ll let down well.”
Cat Noir was in fourth place, three lengths off the lead at the top of straight but reeled in the leader and favourite Write Your Own ($3.60) at the 100 metres and went on to score by 1-1/4 lengths from Track Patcher ($7) and Muppet ($6.50).
Six of Cat Noir’s 11 starts have been at Geelong where she has posted three wins and finished second twice.
Managing owners Fernrigg Farm bred Cat Noir whose dam won five races up to 2000 metres including the ATC Country Classic and was also fourth in both the Grafton Cup and Centaurea Stakes.
Assistant trainer James Edwards said it was usual for Cat Noir to have two or three weeks between runs and he was pleased to see her back up so well off a nine-day break on Tuesday.
“She’s a real tough, grinding mare that I think in time will get to get to a pretty decent grade of racing,” James said.
“Her mum (Miss Dubois) was a really good stayer, and we’ve always a good opinion Cat Noir.
“She settled a lot better today and tempo of the longer races will suit her.”