This G2 3yo over 1400m once again saw the top gun Catalyst school his rivals deluxe and he has been the absolute star of the show on two of the three days he appeared at Hastings by a long way and overshadowed Melody Belle completely. He was the talk of the Bay both days he appeared and continues to gather more plaudits. Once again an absurd manmade on pace and inside lanes bias ruled the whole G1 day and while this was not quite as bad as the bias of the century track on Day Two at Hastings it was still an unfair shocker. The winners and where they turned for home in race order were fourth (four-off the inside and a length from the leader), led (on the rail and a length ahead), co-leader (two-off the inside), fourth (five-off the inside and length and a half from the leader), led (on the rail and length and a half ahead), fifth (five-off the inside and two lengths from the leader), second (one-off the inside and a neck from the leader), second (four-off the inside and a length from the leader), fourth (on the rail and two lengths from the leader) and the deadheaters in the last event were fifth (five-off the inside and two lengths from the leader) and co-leader (four-off the inside). Ten races (eleven winners with the deadheat in the last race) and no winner came from worse than fifth and further out than five-off the inside and no more than two lengths from the leader all day with four leaders winning, two came from second, three from fourth and two from fifth. Fast times or crawls and sprint homes made no difference as the track was blatantly manmade biased and this was worryingly with the rail out 3m, when it was true on Day Two, the most manmade biased track ever seen on a G1 day at the Bay. How this keeps happening on G1 days defies belief, as tracks fair to all or at least almost all are needed and wanted for credibility and confidence. Catalyst was not away sharply and trapped wide before being burned up deep using plenty of petrol to second at the 1000m then went on with it and led at the 850m. The gelding (who the breeder and owner must be ruing the day they gelded him but his sire has not exactly left many if any stars over years in service so it was an understandable move) then with the long languid stride came back underneath his rider nicely across the top for a breather. Then the best 3yo in the land at the moment in New Zealand by a different area code kicked away still under a decent grip turning for home and had all his rivals gasping and tongues hanging out. Catalyst was still jogging it seemed when all behind him were under pressure and feeling the whip chasing in vain. He extended at the 300m and put a gap in them soon after before his rider had not one or two but five looks behind to see where the bloody hell are they! He won by just under three lengths but had double up the sleeve at least and clocked 1:22.65, which is significant in itself. Catalyst once again ran the standout time of the whole day and the G3 Open Class gallopers race ran 1:23.17, so he was three lengths superior and remember he had three more lengths under the bonnet to call on as well. Such is the utter contempt Catalyst is beating his 3yo rivals that he now is the hottest pre-post favourite ever for the G1 2000 Guineas (1600m) at the tight as a drum quote of $1.15. Callsign Mav was wide on the pace early then got second the outer before chasing Catalyst thereafter and he fought well considering he got dropped like a stone at the 300m. The just less than three lengths he got beaten flattered him as Catalyst had double on him at least and his form stacks up, so how good is the winner? The third finisher Aotea Lad ran on late from third last and then sixth turning for home but was over seven lengths from the runner up at the line and more than ten lengths from the winner. Riva Capri one of two fillies in the field raced fifth then fourth between runners and reached a very distant third with 50m to go before losing third on the line. Sherwood Forest at $30 had a nightmare back and wide trip but kept coming and was a rugged effort as he was a last start maiden winner before today (but it should be noted the second and third runners behind him that day have come out and won since). Red Hussar, a maiden and the outsider of the field at $68 ran a decent sixth beaten just under eleven lengths after being last away and then racing seventh or eighth the inner. He will be odds on next time seen out if that occurs in a maiden only event. Exuberant disputed the early pace then led and got headed after 550m before being a battling away seventh at the line after being a distant third turning for home. He ran second beaten over three lengths to Catalyst at Ruakaka prior at G3 but that field was not that strong and proven worse since plus today he has been beaten over eleven lengths for perspective. Checkers raced fourth or fifth the inner and came off turning in but was flat and urged along and he ended up eighth beaten over eleven and a half lengths. Serena, the other filly in the race, settled down last and plugged on once into clear air. Scotch settled back and never looked a hope to be beaten almost fifteen lengths while Blue Rata Eligius ran last and needs wet ground it does seem. How good the 3yo's are that Catalyst is beating up like a heavyweight against a flyweight is debatable and still some form threads need to be proven more than once to get a tick or likewise seen to fail twice before the line goes through them. Catalyst can do work early and then produce a secondary run home surge so he is not just burning the candle at both ends but is melting it ready for an insignia stamp of approval. His sire Darci Brahma has left ten G1 winners with three of them dual winners at this level but the best two performers would be D B Pin and Super Easy and none of the ten are what could be deemed absolute stars to be frank. Catalyst should be G1 individual winner number eleven next month and he may well end the best his sire has ever left if he stays sound and fit and well. Him being a gelding means no record to protect for stallion purposes so he is free to fly and 2020 could be a wonder year for him properly handled.