In-form mare Cat Noir qualified for next month’s $250,000 Country Mile Final at Caulfield when won the first heat of the series at Colac.
Ridden by Teo Nugent, the five-year-old was backed into $4.50 second favourite and enjoyed a perfect run in fourth place one off the rail.
Cat Noir lost some ground as Teo nursed her around the home turn and she was more than three lengths behind passing the 200 metres before unleashing a withering run to beat $4 favourite Cachink and the fast-finishing Geffina ($13).
Last start Cat Noir’s was a handy third at Sandown and won at Colac when resuming from a let-up on January 6.
“She’s found a bit of form at Colac,” assistant trainer James Edwards said.
A Year ago, when she finished fifth in the Colac Cup (2000m), but James said that 1600m have proven her niche distance.
“She looked a nice chance coming back to a country track after placing in town last start and when she put herself in a good spot today I was pretty confident she would be in the finish.”
Managing owners Fernrigg Farm bred Cat Noir who has won five of her 21 starts and Teo Nugent was impressed with her strong finish.
“She’s a very bonny mare,” Teo said.
“She had a beautiful run in transit, travelled really well, once I peeled her out and asked her a question, she delivered.
“She just throws her heart out there.”
The $250,000 Country Mile Final (1600m) is at Caulfield on March 14.