Catch A Wave 2023 Chariots of Fire Photo by Hamilton Content Creators
TRAINER Andy Gath wants Miracle Mile winner Catch A Wave to have a “serious hit out” when he headlines a list of stars strutting their stuff at the strongest Geelong meeting in modern history on Friday night.
Catch A Wave, who was surprisingly upstaged by stablemate and half-brother Yambukian at Melton last Saturday week, will have multiple Group 1 winner Mach Dan as a partner when they work between races four and five (about 7.45pm) at Geelong.
In another boost to the heavily promoted “Team Zav” night, untapped young pacer Captain Ravishing will also work with a partner between races three and four (about 7.05 pm).
It looms as a crucial night for two for Catch A Wave and Captain Ravishing as they prepare for the world’s richest harness race, the $2.1mil TAB Eureka at Menangle on September 2.
They are second and third favourites – Catch A Wave ($4) and Captain Ravishing ($5) – behind Queensland sensation Leap To Fame for the inaugural TAB Eureka.
Catch A Wave’s trainer Andy Gath said the best pacer he’s ever trained may only have one more lead-up race after the Geelong workout before tackling the TAB Eureka.
“We’re going there (Geelong) for a serious hit out, but nothing over the top,” he said. “It’s great to have a top horse like Mach Dan to work with. The plan is to work over 2400m and we’ll follow Mach Dan before getting serious for the last mile.”
Gath conceded Catch A Wave was “probably a bit underdone” when beaten first-up.
“These outstanding horses can trick you a bit. He was working so well at home, but there’s nothing like racing,” he said. “Maybe he switched off a bit at the end of the first-up run, but he was also blowing quite hard after it.
“He spelled so well and came back bigger and stronger. He’s 30kgs bigger than last campaign. He probably just needed some more work.
“We certainly didn’t panic after he was beaten. We’ve seen before we can peak him when it matters and he’s come on since the run.
“He’s got the Geelong workout, then he’ll run at Melton on August 19. I’m also keeping the option open to run him again on August 26 at Melton if we think he needs it.”
Captain Ravishing is the most fascinating TAB Eureka contender.
Six months ago he was the most exciting pacer in this part of the world but defeats in the Chariots Of Fire and Miracle Mile (both by Catch A Wave) and the fact he hasn’t raced since will have everyone watching Geelong with great interest.
Leviathan owners Danny and Jo Zavitsanos, who have Captain Ravishing racing in their TAB Eureka slot, live in Geelong and are behind Friday night’s gala meeting.
Captain Ravishing’s trainer Ahmed Taiba has revealed a daring plan to take the four-year-old into the TAB Eureka without having raced since the Miracle Mile on March 4.
He also conceded Captain Ravishing “wasn’t quite ready” for a serious workout with Catch A Wave at Geelong.
“Catch A Wave is a couple of weeks ahead of us, fitness-wise,” he said. “We’ll use Geelong to top him off for a trial, probably at Shepparton next Thursday. Then he’ll head to Menangle for what will probably be two trials up there.”
Adding to a huge weekend, Leap To Fame will race in the free-for-all at Albion Park on Saturday night.
“He had a couple of days off after the Blacks A Fake and seems really well,” trainer-driver Grant Dixon said. “He’ll have this run and one more up here (Brisbane) before we head to Menangle.”
- Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.
