David Hayes is confident Catch A Fire can make her mark in Group races against her own sex this spring after the mare impressed with a first-up win at Moonee Valley.

A winner of the Group Two Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m) as an autumn three-year-old earlier this year, four-year-old Catch A Fire made her seasonal return in Saturday’s Dr Sheahan Plate (1200m) and came from second last mid-race to win.

Hayes said the Group Two Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) on September 10 was the next target for Catch A Fire.

“She gave them a start, rounded them up and she was really good,” Hayes said.

“She’s got good form here and I think she’s in for a very good spring.”

Hayes said Catch A Fire showed class between the 600m and 400m as she made a move around the field under jockey Damian Lane to be in a position to hit the lead entering the home straight.

Catch A Fire ($7) held off her rivals to defeat Foreign Affair by a half length with Vibrant Rouge the same margin away third.

Hayes believes Catch A Fire, a sister to Group-winning colt Seaburge, is suited to 1400m mares’ races but is hoping she can stretch out to 1600m of the Group One Myer Classic late in the carnival.

Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au