Catia smashes her maiden rivals to finally break through for Jachmann

Catia had to wait 18 starts to notch her first win but the Jonathon Jachmann-trained galloper broke maiden status in dominant fashion in Albany on Friday.

After getting beaten less than three lengths by promising galloper Oxbridge last start, Catia jumped favourite in a weak maiden race and proved far too smart.

Apprentice Laqdar Ramoly bounced the four-year-old mare out of the gates and went straight to the front before booting clear over the final 200m to record a slashing win in the Sheehy Family Racing Maiden (1100m) by 4.8 lengths.

Jachmann said Catia deserved to break her maiden status this campaign.

“We just wanted her to settle a bit better and run more even,” Jachmann said.

“She’s a work-in-progress horse but it was nice to finally break through.

“Hopefully there is some more wins in stall now that she is starting to put it all together.

“She blew out her previous run but I thought she would be hard to beat on Friday.”

Four-year-old mare Shesapocket Rocket produced a tough win at her second start for new trainer Liam O’Loughlin on Friday.

Shesapocket Rocket was recently transferred to O’Loughlin stables and sat deep the entire trip but was strong at the finish to hold off a host of late challenges and win the Crump’s Canvas Handicap (1050m) by 0.3 lengths for jockey Natasha Faithfull.

Natalie Burke scored her first winner since returning to her hometown when recycled galloper Noble Image led all the way to take out the Western Family Racing Handicap (1500m), the second leg of a Kyra Yuill double.

Sent out a $12 chance on TABtouch, Noble Image notched her fourth win from 44 starts in a career that has spanned large parts of WA.

Albany-based hoop Faithfull continued on her good form on Sunday, when riding a double in Kalgoorlie.

Faithfull was severely reprimanded for failing to ride out her mount Rory Who in race one in Albany last week while in the same race Ramoly was also reprimanded for allowing his mount Catia to shift inwards when not fully clear.

Lisa Staples received a reprimand for allowing her mount to shift ground when not sufficiently clear in race six aboard Propeller.