Promising Patinack Farm galloper Gathering will step up to Group 1 company after scoring a convincing on-pace victory in the Listed VRC Paris Lane Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Sunday.

Gathering (4g Tale of the Cat-Celebria by Peintre Celebre) was unplaced behind Response in the G1 MRC Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) last time but trainer John Thompson believes he’s good enough to win at that level.

“I’ve been struggling to place him over a mile,” Thompson explained.  “He takes a couple of runs to get fit but he’s a big, tough, one-paced bugger.”

Gathering’s next assignment assignment will be over 1600m in either to Toorak Hcp at Caulfield or the MVRC Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley.  He nearly won a Group 1 with Gathering this time last year when runner-up to Monaco Consul in the AJC Spring Champion Stakes.

A graduate of the 2008 Gold Coast Magic Millions yearling sale, Gathering has now earned the powerful Patinack Farm operation over $351,000.  He is by renowned Coolmore shuttler Tale of the Cat from a winning half sister to G3 SAJC Breeders’ Stakes winner Murjana.

His family is one of the most famous and best families in the Stud Book.  It includes the Group 1 winning sires Redoute’s Choice, Al Maher, Umatilla, Hurricane Sky and Manhattan Rain.