Jockey Stathi Katsidis can't help thinking it's all a big dream after continuing his remarkable comeback with another feature win on Victorian mare Jacqueline Rouge in the Listed Tattersall's Mile at Eagle Farm.Katsidis made his riding comeback on Queensland Cup day at Eagle Farm last month following more than a year sidelined by injuries and a drug-related disqualification.The 30-year-old's win was his eighth in as many days which started last Saturday when he won the Listed Toowoomba Cup (2100
Jockey Stathi Katsidis can't help thinking it's all a big dream after continuing his remarkable comeback with another feature win on Victorian mare Jacqueline Rouge in the Listed Tattersall's Mile at Eagle Farm.
Katsidis made his riding comeback on Queensland Cup day at Eagle Farm last month following more than a year sidelined by injuries and a drug-related disqualification.
The 30-year-old's win was his eighth in as many days which started last Saturday when he won the Listed Toowoomba Cup (2100m) on Jussemi.
On Thursday Katsidis scored a double, including the Listed Grafton Cup on Kiwi stayer Castle Heights, before riding a treble at Caloundra on Friday.
Jacqueline Rouge's victory was his second at Eagle Farm on Saturday following his earlier victory on Deacon in the Hardy Brothers Jewellery Handicap (2200m).
"I can't believe it. I've got to pinch myself as I still think it's a dream," Katsidis said.
Katsidis literally pinched the race on Jacqueline Rouge after deciding to take the rising six-year-old to the lead after she landed in front when the field jumped.
Trainer Tony Noonan, who was in Darwin to saddle up Chosen One in Saturday's Northern Territory Derby (2000m), spoke with Katsidis before the race but was reluctant to tie him down to specific instructions.
"Tony thought it would be better if we could take a sit on the outside but the way the track was playing I decided to lead," Katsidis said.
"The track was pretty crappy and you had to be in front on the fence or sit four deep."
Jacqueline Rouge broke through for her sixth victory by downing stablemate Ab Almalik by 1-3/4 lengths with Crossthestart a further short neck away third.
Al Almalik's rider Scott Galloway blamed a lack of solid racing for the five-year-old's defeat.
"It was a good run but he was only second-up and it told in the end," Galloway said.
"I thought I was going to get the leader 100 metres out but he knocked up in the last 50 metres.
"The winner was lucky she had an easy lead."
Noonan's foreman Mick Robins was undecided about Jacqueline's Rouge's future after the stable wrapped up its winter carnival campaign.
Noonan was unsure before departing for Darwin whether Jacqueline Rogue would head straight to the breeding barn if she was successful in the 1600-metre feature.
"I think the owners will get her in foal and then race her for a while yet," Robins said.
Trainer Paul Messara's recent run of luck finally ran out when Hussta La Vista finished seventh.
"Christian (Reith) rode her beautifully but I think she was found out over the mile," Messara said.
Messara was uncertain of the four-year-old's future following her defeat.
"She probably would have retired to stud if she won but I'm not sure what will happen with her now," he said.
Messara won the Listed Ramornie Handicap (1200m) at Grafton on Wednesday with Battlefield.