Cambridge gives One Cool Cat cold shoulder

One Cool Cat will not shuttle to Cambridge Stud for the 2009 breeding season.

The Coolmore shuttler was a major disappointment in 2008-09 when his first southern crop of two year-olds failed to make any sort of impact in Australia and New Zealand.

“One Cool Cat is not in demand with breeders” Cambridge owner Sir Patrick Hogan said.  “Shuttling him this season is simply not viable.”

One Cool Cat (Storm Cat) was represented by 30 juvenile starters last season for just two winners – Winter King in Australia and Cats Whiskers who scored on debut at New Plymouth (NZ) in December.

Winter King (3c One Cool Cat – Something Special by Bletchingly) will start in the San Domenico Stakes at Randwick this Saturday and trainer David Payne is banking on a win in the Group 3 event so the colt can qualify for the $1 million Golden Rose on August 29.

Winter King has won his last three at Gosford, Canterbury and Randwick.  He shouldered 59.5kg and overcame a slow getaway to score at headquarters last time.

“He knuckled over at the start and he still won,” Payne told AAP.  “He’s done it tough with big weights on bog tracks and he’s still been finishing off strongly.

Connections will pay up for the Golden Rose if he runs up to expectations in the San Domenico.  “If he stacks up on Saturday then why not,” Payne added.  “It’s a $1 million race.”