Catherine inspired by an Aussie Icon at Melton

Geoff Webster is hoping that Catherine (Art Major) can channel her namesake’s greatness in Saturday night’s Charlie Bezzina Memorial 2YO Pace at Melton Entertainment Park.

The harness racing juvenile is named after Australian sporting icon Cathy Freeman, who won gold at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

“She is out of a mare called Flagbearer, so we chose Catherine after Cathy,” Webster said.

The 68-year-old is confident in the filly ahead of her first start.

“She has come along nicely,” he said. “She has been quite good in her two trials, she will be quite competitive.

“We are in a bit of an unknown territory with her at the moment, her work has been quite good and so has her trials. All in all, I have been quite happy with her all along.”

Webster was set to have two runners in the 1720m dash, but scratched stablemate Fantasea.

Catherine has drawn five for the $10,000 event, giving the Bannockburn trainer-driver a chance to see what his filly is capable of in the early stages of the event.

“She has got reasonably good gate speed, I wouldn’t say she is blistering off the gate,” he said. “She will hold her own and there isn’t too many in the field (nine), so she should get a good trip.”

The Ben Pell-prepared Insider Trading will start from the pole (one) in the Charlie Bezzina Memorial 2YO Pace, which is set to go at 7.02pm.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Lachlan Mitchell, for Harness Racing Victoria