Cath Hamblin rewarded for her persistence

By Jordan Gerrans

Cath Hamblin is still surprised - and over the moon - about Titivate’s miraculous victory on Saturday.

But, when she looks back on it all, the rookie conditioner will be immensely proud the mare will go down on her resume as her maiden win as a trainer.

Hamblin – the wife of heavy weight hoop Paul – has been through all the ups and downs with the daughther of Iffraaj over the last few years.

Titivate had one official trial with David Vandyke back in April of 2022 where she finished more than 14 lengths behind the winner before she was moved on by the leading Caloundra trainer.

She did not reappear on the public scene again until January of this year where she had two runs at Gatton and Ipswich in maiden grade.

They were under the guidance of Cath as a five-year-old having the first couple of runs of her career.

Titivate did not figure in the finish on those two occasions - beaten more than six lengths in each event - and headed for a break.

“We gave her some time off and gave her every treatment so that I could get her right,” Cath said.

“It was a good experience for her just to be able to get to the races at Gatton earlier this year for her first time.

“She has been a little difficult and she has probably had every issue you could think of.”

Before her third start on Saturday afternoon, Cath chucked the blinkers on and after a couple of strong gallops, she knew she was ready for a return to the track on race day.

The chestnut mare was back at the races on Saturday at Nanango where she stunned her trainer to win over 1200 metres.

Veteran hoop Dale Smith exposed Titivate at the top of the straight and he lifted the mare in a diving finish where a handful of gallopers hit the line at once.

“The result was very surprising on Saturday,” Cath said on Tuesday morning.

“I told Dale – who is a good friend of ours - before the race that if he felt anything wrong with her in the run just to pull her up but for her to finish the way she did, that was quite surprising.

“You can hear me on the replay screaming (laughs) from the race, it was very surprising but also very rewarding.”

It was Cath’s husband Paul who nudged her towards the training ranks.

Paul is a journeyman heavyweight rider based at the Sunshine Coast.

He has extensive experience riding in jumps racing as well as on the flat. 

Cath has been around the game for decades but had not ridden track work herself for around 13 years after a bad fall resulted in a shoulder injury.

It was the purchase of her first galloper Morgan's Smile that sparked Cath to take out her trainers licence.

She eventually progressed to ride work once again with Titivate one of her favourites.

“Paul suggested I buy our first horse Morgan’s Smile so I purchased him,” Cath said.

“He also came with some issues and with limited ability. And, as he does, Paul found another in Titivate that was being given away.

“I suggested we didn’t need any more horses but I went and picked her up.

“Paul does help me out with some guidance on some occasions but he does tend to leave it to me.”

Cath has been nearing her breakthrough victory for some time.

After having her first starter in a race in July of last year, she collected four minor place finishes before Saturday’s Nanango triumph.

Maiden galloper Gold Fever has accounted for all of those minor placings as the gelding has finished second on three separate occasions for the team.

After Titivate arrived at her Sunshine Coast stable as an unraced galloper, there is a great sense of pride for Cath that she was able to win a race with the mare more than two years after her initial trial for Vandyke.

“I got her and I started riding her, I kind of fell in love with her,” Cath said of Titivate.

“It is very enjoyable being back riding work. Hopefully I can get back into it more.”

As well as Gold Fever, Morgan’s Smile and Titivate, Cath also has Alkenter and Moana Nui in her stable.