Gregory eager to start Quatre Cat in B.C. Cup Debutante

Trainer Sylvea Gregory is looking forward to running Quatre Cat in the B.C. Cup Debutante on B.C. Cup Day, Aug. 4.

The 2-year-old filly by Abraaj couldn’t have been more impressive when she won her debut in a maiden special weight race going six furlongs July 1. She broke a half-step slowly, and when she was starting to get into the race on the first turn, she got forced out to the middle of the track by a couple of horses who were drifting out on the turn. For a second, it looked like jockey Ryan Pacheco was going to pull her up. Instead, he let her gather herself, and when he turned her loose, she made an impressive move to win going away by 1 1/4 lengths over Bullet, who is going to be heavily favored to win Saturday’s fourth race.

“She’s really developed for her age,” said Pacheco. “She looks and acts like an older horse. She overcame quite a bit when she won her first start. She actually hit the starting gate when she left there, and everyone saw what happened on the first turn.”

Gregory was high on her right from the start.

“She’s really smart,” said Gregory. “The second I broke her, I really loved her. Once she started training, we could see she had a chance to be something special. She loves to train, but she also likes to go to the track to just stand there and watch other horses train.”

Gregory and her husband, Dave, bought Quatre Cat for $7,500 from her breeder, Rob McDonald, after she didn’t reach her reserve at last year’s Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society’s yearling and mixed sale.

Dave takes the credit for the shrewd purchase. Right after they bought her, they sold half to Stuart Carmichael and his wife, May.

“She looked fantastic, and I always liked her half-sister Quatre Dames,” said Dave Gregory. “I thought she would go for $20,000 to $25,000, and I think the reason she didn’t reach her reserve is that her sire isn’t very well known.”

Sylvea Gregory said she came out of the race in perfect shape.

“It’s like she never ran,” she said. “She’s doing great, and I’m sure I’ll work her before she runs in the Debutante. I’m just not sure when.