Katherine Coleman sets sights on Aurie’s Star Handicap

Katherine Coleman will have family support on hand when she saddles her first runners at Flemington.

The former Perth girl officially joins Peter Moody in a training partnership as of Tuesday and could have a handful of runners at the opening metropolitan meeting of the season at Flemington on Saturday.

Parents Rob and Heather will be present to see their daughter in operation, although she is likely to have had a runner – or two – prior to the weekend.

Runsir is down to run at the Pakenham synthetic meeting on Tuesday but has drawn the outside gate and Coleman said a decision was pending on whether the gelding would start.

Dual city placegetter Scorsese is a nomination to run in a maiden at Sale and Coleman said he was likely to be the stable’s sole runner at that meeting.

“He has tightened up nicely,” Coleman said.

“They were just a little bit sharp for him the other day, so we’ll stretch him out in trip and hopefully get that maiden out of the way.”

At Flemington Coleman will have representation in the first Stakes race of the season, last start winner Dance To Dubai in the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m).

“She was so good last start, and it is the obvious option for her,” Coleman said.

“She has come on well from that run as well.”

Coleman does not expect anything will change with her name now listed alongside Moody’s.

She has been with Moody since he rejoined training ranks three years ago with the plan one day to become a training partnership.

“We were talking the other day about when we were filling the stables with horses, and it just seems like yesterday rather than three years ago,” Coleman said.

“We had to get the ball rolling and make sure he and I worked well together, but it was always the plan for it to happen and it’s finally come to fruition.

“Nothing will really change much. He’s the senior trainer and we work together now anyway and bounce ideas off each other all the time.

“I’m just very lucky to have him there as a mentor guiding me along.”

Coleman said the greatest attribute Moody has was his patience with two-year-olds.

She said he will turn them out for a break if they are not coping rather than press on.

Coleman said she cannot say how grateful and thankful she is for the opportunity.

“I know what a big step it is for me to be a part of a stable with the quality of horses that we have,” Coleman said.

“It’s unbelievable for someone starting out.”

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