POPULAR former apprentice Georgie Catania celebrated her first winner as a senior rider when she partnered the John Blacker-trained Alpine Angel to a stirring victory in a maiden over 1200 metres at The TOTE Racing Centre in Launceston on Wednesday night.
Alpine Angel (Helike-Carnival Ride) was well backed and when Catania called on the well-bred mare for the supreme effort over the concluding stages she dug deep and grabbed victory over Who Decides in the shadows of the post.
The mare had been close up at two of her previous three starts with the exception of when she stayed in the starting stalls but Blacker was always confident the daughter of Helike would pay her way.
“She is a full sister to Ken Keys’ handy stayer Like A Carousel and now that she has learned how to win I expect more to come,” Blacker said.
Catania has been with the Blacker stable for close to two years and it is where she completed her time as an apprentice.
“John (Blacker) has been there for me throughout my career,” Catania said.
“I’ve had a lot of support fro him so I hope I can continue to be an important part of his business.”
“Alpine Angel is a nice mare with a bit of scope about her and this win will give her a lot of confidence,” she said.
Blacker made it a race-to-race double when smart filly Easy As That scored an emphatic win in a maiden over 1400 metres with Victorian non-claiming apprentice Damian Thornton in the saddle.
Easy As That had been competing in slightly stronger races but back to maiden company she appreciated the drop in grade and won accordingly.
She is well bred being by Holy Roman Emperor from former Devonport Cup winner With Decorum that also won in Melbourne and was considered a classy middle distance performer.
Easy As That is With Decorum’s first foal.