An emotional Wave takes the Nullarbor

20 April 2024 | Adam Hamilton
Logo
Catch A Wave's Nullarbor Win

Catch A Wave's Nullarbor Win Photo by Pacepix

BRILLIANT Victorian raider Catch A Wave gave superstar driver Kate Gath the most satisfying win of her stellar career in last night's $1.25mil Group 1 Nullarbor at Gloucester Park.

And the five-year-old gelding, who had already won a Miracle Mile, smashed through the $2 million prize money barrier in the process.

"That's right up there," Gath said. 

"In fact, for sheer satisfaction, it's as good as it gets."

"I felt driving in this race, around this track, was the biggest challenge of my career. I was nervous, and I don't usually get nervous. It's a really special win."

"This horse has been so great to us, and to have him call all the way here, after having his ups and downs over the past 12 months, and to win is just fantastic."

Adding hugely to the moment was the presence of owner Pauline Matthews, wife of the owner Richard Matthews, at Gloucester Park.

"I never go to the races, but something just made me want to be in Perth for this one," said Matthews, who lives near Port Fairy in Victoria.

"Richard loved this horse. He was the horse he'd been waiting to get his whole life. He'll be up there sharing the moment with us."

Richard Matthews passed away in September 2022 when Catch A Wave was just starting his rise to prominence.

"He's more than a horse to us. He's not just the best horse we've had, but it's been such a special chapter of our lives to share with Richard and now Pauline and the family. It just makes wins like this mean so much more," trainer Andy Gath said."

Remarkably, the Nullarbor wasn't on the radar for Catch A Wave until a month before the race.

An aborted attempt at defending his Miracle Mile left Team Gath wondering what to do with their stable star.

"He had an injury scare, which turned out to only be a corn and an abscess, and he recovered quickly, but the Miracle Mile was gone," Andy Gath said.

"It was either put him out for a spell or look at one of the slot races. He recovered so quickly that we had to look at one of the slots. I'll be honest: Our preference was the NZ race (Race By Grins, run last Friday), but all the slots were gone."

"So, we thought about Perth and then got a call from Rob Tomlinson, who manages the Regency Foods slot. It didn't take long before we had a deal done."

"Kate and I did um and ah a bit about going to Perth, but everything has gone right since we came across and we really felt we had him as good as we ever have tonight."

Kate Gath did the rest, taking advantage of a blazing tempo set by the leaders as she sat back in the field and swooping late to beat a very gallant local Minstrel by three metres with a half-head away to outsider Swingband in third spot.

"There was a lot of talk about Spirit Of St Louis and Hot And Treacherous going at it up front, and I was thrilled when they did," Gath said.

"After a lap, I thought we're going to be right in this and then when I got a three-wide trail home I started to get really excited. When I said go, he just put them away."

Minstrel did a mighty job to run second after making a midrace move to sit outside the leader in slick times, while Swingband made plenty of late ground from behind Catch A Wave.

The win gave Andy Gath the "full set" with Group 1 victories in each Australian harness racing state.

"That's pretty satisfying, but the real story for Kate and I is sharing this win, this moment with Pauline (Matthews) and her family. It's why we're in the game," he said.

·Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp

 

Related News

6 April 2025
GOODFORM - Ryan's tips, strategy and Quaddie for Ararat Sunday
Ryan Phelan has taken aim at Sunday night's 8-race program from Ararat.
6 April 2025
Mr Bondi set to fly
Last season’s leading Tasmanian trainer, Wayne Yole, looks forward to the road ahead with Mr Bondi, who lines up in the Ladbrokes Racing Club Stakes (1680m) in Launceston on Sunday night. The pacer ran the second fastest time in the state and was placed in record time behind Triedtotellya in Launceston...
6 April 2025
Woods' two year old makes a winning debut
Lather Up two-year-old Barber Shop made a winning debut when scoring in the Prydes Easifeed Pace (1609m) in Hobart on Friday night. The Heath Woods-trained and driven pacer was sent out as the $2.15 favourite after two trial victories leading up to the race. From barrier three Woods was able to find...
5 April 2025
GOODFORM - Tips and betting strategy for Saturday night at HQ
Tim O'Connor has done the form for Saturday night's meeting at Melton.
5 April 2025
Nieuwenburg's Numbers: Spotlight on Saturday night at headquarters
Bronte Nieuwenburg has taken a deep dive into tonight's meeting at Melton, using stats and sectional times to break down the key runners. CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL MEETING ANALYSIS
Click for more