Nicky and Nick White are hoping Catwalk Queen’s debut win at Tauranga on Friday is the first of many, with the Kaha Nui Farm principals raising awareness and funds for the CatWalk Trust through the filly.
Nicky White is a Trustee of the charitable organisation, founded by Dame Catriona Williams, which raises funds and awareness to support research into spinal cord injury treatments and cures, and the Whites donated Catwalk Queen to the Trust in a bid to help that cause.
“Our family donated her because we have a soft spot for the CatWalk Trust and everything they are trying to do,” Nicky White said. “It is a great cause and we are keen to get more exposure because I think a lot of people aren’t quite aware of it and all the great things and inspirational people involved.
“We have got a bit of money to raise for the research team, the cure programmes, so hopefully she will go a long way towards helping us out.”
The CatWalk Trust partnered with Entain, who operated the now defunct TAB Racing Club at the time, and The CatWalk Collective syndicate was formed, which comprises 25 members who each have a one percent share in the filly, with the remaining 75 percent of the prizemoney earned donated straight to the Trust.
“Entain have kindly come on board and are sorting out all of her training fees and expenses to race her,” White said. “We have donated the horse to the CatWalk Trust, but we have stayed in as owners on paper.
“We have got 25 new owners that have entered the racing game and they have each got a one percent share. We wanted to get a bit more awareness for the Trust and they came in on a pretty good wicket being able to buy into a racehorse and gain some experience, support a good cause and be a part of the fun.”
White said well-known CatWalk Trust supporter Eion Kemp, of Kilgravin Lodge, was also generous in donating his time, free of charge, when breaking-in CatWalk Queen.
Entrusted to the care of Matamata trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, Catwalk Queen had shown plenty of early promise, winning one and placing in three of her four trials before making her debut in the Mills Reef Maiden 1200 on Friday.
She was urged forward out of the gates to take an early lead by jockey Matt Cartwright, and while pressured on the outside by Earlicheer, the pair were able to hold onto their advantage on the rail.
Catwalk Queen entered the straight with a length lead, which she was able to extend to 1-3/4 lengths over stablemate Osipova at the line.
“It was super,” White said. “We went to watch her win on debut and she had a pretty solid race. They let her cruise a bit, but she seemed to do it pretty well.
“She is a big, powerful filly, but she has still got a lot of growing to do. Andrew and Lance will see how she pulls up and go from there. It is super to see her show so much promise early on given where we are trying to head with her for the CatWalk Trust.”
-Article by Joshua Smith
