A Group Three win at Caulfield on Saturday is just the start of what connections of Catkins hope she can achieve by season's end.

The Chris Waller-trained Catkins, favourite at $2.90, showed her fighting qualities to deny Hi Belle ($16) by a half head in Saturday's Sportingbet Spint Series Heat 2 Stakes (1200m) with Flash Of Doubt ($21) a short neck away third.

The spring carnival goals for Catkins remain up in the air but it's during the autumn next year in Sydney where the four-year-old mare is likely to get her chance to shine at the top level.

The Group One Coolmore Classic (1500m) for fillies and mares next autumn has been pinpointed as a likely long-range target.

"Chris (Waller) thinks she's going to be one of his main players in the autumn," Melbourne stable representative Justine Hales said.

"He's looking at races like the Coolmore for her. He really likes the filly and she's got a lot of ability."

Dropping back in distance after her last-start second to Commanding Jewel in the Let's Elope Stakes (1400m), Catkins raced wide from the outside barrier before finishing down the centre of the track which appeared the place to be.

The resuming Hi Belle challenged strongly on her outside but Catkins was able to fight on and win narrowly.

"She's a tough mare," jockey Craig Newitt said.

"In the autumn I think you'll find she'll go to a whole new level."