And so smitten with the unextended effort of Catkins, Glyn Schofield quickly labelled the exciting filly a threat to Magic Millions hopeful Fundido as Chris Waller’s top Golden Slipper contender.

While Sydney’s leading trainer kept watch over the latter in preparation for Saturday’s $2million classic, Schofield was left to sing the praises of Catkins after waltzing to victory in the two-year-old maiden plate over 1000m at Kembla yesterday.

‘‘She’s going to be right up there with the better ones,’’ Schofield said with a pointer to the upcoming Blue Diamond-Golden Slipper features.

‘‘Her time suggests, on her trial last Friday, that she was the quickest of the morning outside of Fundido.

‘‘If times are anything to go by, there’s your yardstick there. Obviously we’ve got high opinions of him, and this filly we’ve got the same sort of opinions of her. She’s a very exciting filly to go forward with.’’

Catkins, a Dubawi galloper out of Catbird mare Salix Caprea, warmed up for yesterday’s task with a pair of eye-catching trial wins at Rosehill.

Challenged for favouritism by Rex Is A Star, Schofield cornered Gai Waterhouse’s first starter with a brisk beginning before romping to a 2-length win.

‘‘I just wanted to make sure I got in front of Gai’s horse, I didn’t want to be chasing it around the corner,’’ Schofield said.

‘‘She [Catkins] did all the donkey work and still kicked away for a strong win. I’m very impressed with her win and I was taken by her first trial.

‘‘She’s shown improvement from there to her second trial and obviously into today’s race. I think they’ve got a very smart filly.’’

Schofield will now turn his attention to riding Fundido on the Gold Coast.

When quizzed on what the horror barrier 16 would mean to his chances, the South African-born hoop suggested he would not engage in a kamikaze lead-at-all-costs speed battle.

‘‘Whoever’s pulling the marble out, I think they should find a new one,’’ he joked.

‘‘It’s unfortunate, you’ve got to take what you get and there’s going to be a load of speed in the race.

‘‘One thing about Fundido is that he’s not a sit-and-sprint horse, he’s definitely a roller so we’ve got to bear that in mind.

‘‘If they’re going too quick for us and we can’t get there we just have to take a little bit of a sit. Otherwise we will be positive from the gate and get across somewhere,’’ Schofield said.