Catalonia/Vilanova

Catalonia was purchased by David Ellis for $150,000 from the draft of Haunui Farm at the Karaka Premier Sale.  Trained by Jason Bridgman, he was second on debut to the classy Bounding and at just his second start as a 2YO he won the $50,000 Listed Wentwood Grange Stud Stakes at Te Rapa in December 2012.  He was then fourth in the $70,000 Group 3 Eclipse Stakes at Ellerslie on New Year's Day.

After his Singaporean owner sold a share in him to Australian interests, he transferred across the Tasman and has enjoyed considerable success at the elite level there.

Renamed Vilanova in Australia, his two highlights to date have been his victories in the A$220,000 Group 2 BMW Caulfield Autumn Classic over 1800m at Caulfield in February 2014 and the $150,000 Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes at 2000m at Doomben in May 2014. He finished fourth in the A$125,000 Group 3 Rough Habit Plate 2000m also in May as his lead in to victory in the Grand Prix.

His other noteworthy performances have been as runner up in the A$220,000 Grouip 2 Champagne Stakes 1200m at Eagle Farm in May 2013 and then followed that by being runner up in the A$350,000 Group 2 BRC Sires' Produce Stakes 1350m at Doomben later that month.

He was fourth in the A$600,000 Group 1 JJ Atkins Stakes 1600m at Eagle Farm in June 2013 and then third in the A$150,000 Up & Coming Stakes 1300m at Warwick Farm in August 2013.

He has raced 21 times for three wins and eight placings with stakes' earnings of just over A$489,000.