Katsu aiming towards G1 Oakleigh Plate contest

Trainer Grahame Begg is beginning to see the development in Katsu that could lead the gelding to a Group 1 sprint in the autumn.

The Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) next month is in the back of Begg’s mind, but first the Listed W J Adams Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on Friday needs to be run and won.

Victory in Friday’s race provides the winner with a ballot exemption into the Oakleigh Plate on February 24.

Katsu has won five of his 10 starts to date but has been his own worst enemy by wanting to overdo things in his races.

With maturity, Katsu is beginning to overcome those bad traits, however Begg is far from declaring the gelding the finished product, just yet.

Begg saw signs in Katsu when successful in the Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on December 20, and again in a Cranbourne jump-out on January 15.

“He’s still a work in progress with the way he goes about things, but we think he’s really starting to turn the corner in the way he’s training at home,” Begg said.

“But I want him to see him do it again. He was very controlled in the race, the way he went about it, and he was the same in the jump-out, and he’s training like it as well.

“We’ve always had a high opinion of the horse.

“That particular day (at Flemington), the way the wind was, the way the track was playing, we drew an inside gate, we thought it would be very hard for him to get to the right position, but he went super.

“He’s come on really well and I’m expecting a good showing from him again.”

Begg said the space between the Kensington Stakes and the Oakleigh Plate was too great for a sprinter like Katsu and the conditions of Friday’s race suits Katsu perfectly.

“This is a win and you’re in,” Begg said.

“It’s a long time to go a couple of months between runs.

“He won just before Christmas, and this looked the next logical to target, especially with this race and with the win and you’re in.

“It’s very inviting.”