THIS CAT’S COOKIN’, BABE

Cataloochee
(Photo : Summerhill Stud)

CATALOOCHEE

In a land in which speed is king, he was the Emperor. Whether it was Turffontein, Newmarket, the Vaal or Scottsville, once Cataloochee hit the front, no horse ever passed him.

On his way, he ran the fastest 1000 metres in recorded history. In the 1200 metres of the Golden Horse Casino Sprint, he ran faster than any horse had ever run. To understand what that means, you have to visit the Honour Roll. 

And now, it seems, his progeny have come to understand their heritage. Thus far four runners; one winner (Ms Loochee by five); one runner-up on debut (Ikeechobee); and two third (Zee Cat and Jeanre), also on debut.

Those that watched the Emperors Palace Ready To Run gallops at Summerhill, will remember our predictions. All the sadder, that we’re talking of the dead. It’s the way of the world, we’re afraid, but the old Cat’s up there somewhere, and he’s doubtless talkin’ up a storm about his babies.

REMEMBERING THE CATALOOCHEE SPEED MACHINE

Cataloochee
(Photo : Summerhill Stud)

CATALOOCHEE
EQUUS CHAMPION SPRINTER 2004/2005

Following Ms Loochee’s win at Scottsville this past weekend, the Sporting Post remembers her Champion Sprinter sire, Cataloochee :

“The deceased Cataloochee became the first of the new batch of freshman sires to be credited with a winner when his daughter Ms Loochee won at the second time of asking over 800m at Scottsville on Sunday. Ms Loochee had faded after showing pace in the opening two-year-old event on the same course one week earlier, but this time she led her rivals a merry dance from the break and never looked like being caught.

The sheer straight-line speed showed by Ms Loochee won’t come as a surprise to those who remember Cataloochee as the outstanding sprinter of his time. Trained by Geoff Woodruff, Cataloochee won 5 races from only 8 starts, between 1000m - 1200m including Gr1 Computaform Sprint and the Gr1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint. He was voted the Equus Champion Sprinter of the 2004/2005 season. He only raced once more the following term, finishing fifth in the Computaform Sprint and was retired in 2006 to take up stallion duty at Summerhill Stud. Cataloochee died after a paddock accident in 2008.

Cataloochee was a son of former champion sire Al Mufti, whose other stallion sons include the excellent and prolific Captain Al. Cataloochee was out of the Old Testament mare Lexington Love, who won 5 races up to 1400m and finished third in the Gr1 Allan Robertson Fillies Championship. She, presumably, was the source of Cataloochee’s preference for sprinting. Lexington Love in turn was out of the Brigadier Gerard mare Miss Waterloo, a Stakes winner in Italy. This is the family, amongst others, of European Gr3 winners Andreyev, St Expedit, and Asian Heights.”

CATALOOCHEE'S RUNNERS ARE OUT THERE... ALONE.

Cataloochee
(Photo : Summerhill Stud)

CATALOOCHEE

A Fighter, A Champion, On his Own.
Literally and Metaphorically.
And now, as promised, his runners are out there.
Alone. Ms Loochee, by five.

 

For more information please visit :
www.summerhill.co.za

or contact Linda Norval
+27 (0) 33 263 1081

FIRST WINNER FOR CATALOOCHEE

 

Ms Loochee
(Photos : Gold Circle)

MS LOOCHEE

Cataloochee had his first winner this weekend in a UK Soccer 6 Maiden Juvenile Plate over 800m at Scottsville. The precocious 2-year-old, Ms Loochee, bred and owned by Mr M Chetty and trained by Kumaran Naidoo, won very impressively by 5 lengths under jockey Muzi Yeni. It was the second run for the filly who was broken-in and raised by Lenny Taylor at the Rich Reward Stud in Mooi River …and Ms Loochee is definitely one to look out for in the future.