Star Youngster Continues Spectacular Rise

OUTSTANDING prospect Catch The Thief thrust himself into the spotlight for next week's Group 2 Launching Pad heats with a thumping 29.21 victory at Sandown on Thursday night.

And with his equally talented litter brother Playlist ticking over nicely heading towards the lucrative sweepstakes event, Briagolong trainer Matt Clark is perfectly positioned to play a leading hand in the $420,000 three-week series.

"I was blown away with Catch The Thief's win last night but I knew he had it in him, I got a bit emotional actually watching at home," beamed Clark.

"The penny has really dropped with him. Right the way through he's always been that bit immature but he's doing everything perfect now. I always said that Playlist was the quicker of the two boys but I'm starting to rethink that now."

In a performance that solidified his Launching Pad claims, Catch The Thief, a son of Aussie Infrared and Dundee Alley, was simply brilliant at Sandown on Thursday night.

Taking his place in the restricted wins final, where a Launching Pad ticket was on offer to the winner of the 515 metre event, Catch The Thief backed up his scintillating 29.23 heat victory four days earlier with an equally spectacular 29.21 display.

Put simply, the performance was breathtaking.

"You could see in the boxes he was going to begin – he was down beautiful and nailed it," Clark stated.

"He went 4.95 early and 18.51 up the back and he's a lot stronger now – he's the complete package which is a bit scary.

"There's going to be some very good dogs in the Launching Pad but he's shown he probably should be the series favourite. My old man said to me this morning that the sections he ran last night are Simon Told Helen times – it's just great to have two dogs of their ability in the kennel."

And while Catch The Thief goes into next week's $150,000 to-the-winner series in dashing form, Clark reports that Playlist couldn't be better positioned for his Launching Pad assault either.

Winner at six of his 12 starts, Playlist was last seen at The Meadows on March 6 when scoring over the 525 metres in a brisk 29.84.

"We were initially going to take Playlist to Sydney for the New Sensation but after his last win thought he deserved his chance at the Launching Pad as well," Clark said.

"I haven't been able to race him because he's on the series limit of six wins. But I trialled him at Sandown on Wednesday and he went 29.41 in the last trial of the day. The best of the session was Zipping Zeek at 29.35. He couldn't be better either."

And while Catch The Thief's dazzling victory was the standout performance at Sandown on Thursday night, training honours for the program were with Clark's father-in-law Chris Johannsen, leading home a winning treble.

In a red letter night for the Devon Meadows trainer, Johannsen guided home Terren's Close, Off To Monaco and the heavily backed Just Lovin' It to commanding victories.

"(Wife) Bianca was there last night, I stayed at home," Clark offered. "It was a great night for the family."

"I was chasing Bianca back when I was 15 and she didn't want a bar of me back then. But I didn't give up the chase and here we are now happily married. You just have to stick at it!"