Press Statement filly Kitty Cat Chat has passed the first test on the road to a Group 1 assignment in South Africa.
The Ridgemont homebred filly showed unlimited potential winning a Durbanville maiden on debut last Tuesday and her connections are already positively looking ahead to the Cape Fillies Guineas Gr.1 at Kenilworth in December.
Kitty Cat Chat (3f Press Statement – Kiwi Karma by Fast ‘N’ Famous) was purchased by the Kieswetter Family in utero in April 2017 and conceived at Vinery but was foaled down in the Hunter Valley.
“She’s a serious filly and was super-impressive last week,” Ridgemont’s Craig Kieswetter declared. “She’s pulled up well and we’re quietly confident she can keep winning to build her merit rating for the Guineas.
“We planned to let her settle first-up but she showed speed from the pens so Greg (Cheyne) let her run her own race. He’s good with the young ones and said she did it easily.”
The Kieswetter family – Wayne & Belinda and their sons Craig & Ross – are key players in the industry and they won the 2018 Cape Fillies Guineas with Front And Centre (Dynasty).
“We’ve just retired Front And Centre and she will be a tremendous addition to our broodmare band. The Guineas and other Group 1 events like the Paddock Stakes and Majorca Stakes are the races we target for our fillies and mares.
“We have a fantastic Stallion Roster with Canford Cliffs, Rafeef, Jackson, and Potala Palace – and Front And Centre will visit Canford Cliffs for her first season.”
The Kieswetters also own Barnane Stud in County Tipperary and Kiwi Karma (NZ) is about to be covered in Ireland. “She’s a cracking mare and will be bred to southern hemisphere time so we can race the foal in South Africa, and as things stand we are thinking along the lines of Zoffany or Mastercraftsman.” Craig revealed. “Hopefully, Kitty Cat Chat can add more black-type to her page.”
Barnane Stud is also home to Urban Fox (Foxwedge) who carried the Kieswetter Family’s Irish colours to a Group 1 victory in 2018 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh. Her maiden cover was to Dubawi and by all accounts is a cracking first foal.
Craig Kieswetter’s name should ring a bell with cricket fans. He played for Somerset and England and was Man of the Match when England defeated Australia in the 2010 World Cup Final in Barbados.
Vinery stands Press Statement for a $13,750 (inc GST) service fee, payable on a live foal. For further information, please contact Adam White (0414 800 918) or Harry Roach (0401 970 006).
KITTY CAT CHAT
Press Statement filly returns to scale with Craig & Belinda Kieswetter