Back-up plan a reality for Katsu

Owners had booked tickets to fly to Melbourne to watch Katsu run at Caulfield, only to see those plans rained out.

Instead, Katsu heads to Moonee Valley on Saturday to contest the Strathmore Community Bendigo Bank Handicap (1000m).

Katsu was all set to resume in the Group 2 Millennium Sprint (1000m) at Caulfield last Saturday until the track was drenched with rain on the Friday prior.

A Heavy 8 track was posted at scratching time on Saturday morning and trainer Grahame Begg had no hesitation in withdrawing the sprinter.

While the track was upgraded during the meeting, the words of Joao Moreira were ringing in Begg’s ears after the star jockey won the opening race on the program.

“I heard Joao Moreira say after winning the first race last week that some would handle it, and some wouldn’t, so I think we made the right call,” Begg said.

Katsu runs in opening race on Saturday after eight races are to be run on Friday night.

The track was rated a Good 4 for Friday’s meeting with plans to water the track following the meeting.

Katsu has won previously won on Soft 5 tracks, and placed on a Soft 6 surface, but Begg would prefer to see the track closer to the Good 4 range.

“We had this race as a back-up plan just in case things didn’t work at Caulfield,” Begg said.

“He’s a dry track horse and it was just too wet at Caulfield, so we pulled him out.

“He’s been placed on the soft, but his best form is all on good tracks and they suit fast horses, which he is.”

Saturday’s outing will be the first time Katsu has raced at Moonee Valley, having won previously at Sandown and Flemington while he has also been placed at Caulfield.