Catch A Wave V Leap To Fame - Round Four

03 October 2024 | Adam Hamilton
Logo
Catch A Wave 2023 Chariots of Fire

Catch A Wave 2023 Chariots of Fire Photo by Hamilton Content Creators

TRAINER Andy Gath agrees everything is in Catch A Wave's favour for his fourth clash with Leap To Fame, but he's still not confident.

The scoreline is 2-1 Leap To Fame's way, but this time, the short distance (1720m) and barrier draw – Catch A Wave has gate two compared to Leap To Fame out in seven – are both big pluses for Catch A Wave in Saturday night's $50,000 Smoken Up Sprint at Melton.

Despite and due to Leap To Fame's greatness, the Queenslander is a commanding $1.60 favourite, with Catch A Wave at $3.70.

"Am I confident? No," Gath said. "Are we going there knowing we have to take advantage of the draw and lead if we can? Yes."

"Every time you race Leap To Fame you have to be ready to run a track record, history says that, and I just don't know if Catch A Wave is ready to do that this week."

"History also tells us that Catch A Wave is a much better horse for some reason when he's on the quick back-up and he's coming off a break into this race."

"I know he had the trial on Tuesday (at Melton), but I'm sure he'll be better again for the Victoria Cup next week. That's the main target, and that's why he's racing this week."

"But we'll be trying to lead, and we think we can, and we'll want to hold the front."

"I've got a horse, Tango Tara, who has run 1min50sec in front for 1720m (at Melton) and Catch A Wave is much better than him, so they should go super time."

Former Hunter Cup winner Lochinvar Art holds the Melton 1720m track record at 1min48.6sec.

It has been a less than ideal week for Leap To Fame, who spent two days travelling from Brisbane to Melbourne by road after connections were unable to secure a flight.

And the $3.2 million earner has only raced once since July 27, when he returned to win a 2138m free-for-all at Albion Park last Saturday night.

Like Gath, Leap To Fame's trainer-driver Grant Dixon is adamant his star will be better for this week's run.

"That's why we were so keen to get down (to Melton) the week before because we couldn't get another lead-up race at home," Dixon said.

"He thrives on the racing, and as good as he went last week, this run should really top him off for the (Victoria) Cup."

Last year's Victoria Cup was the only time in their three clashes where Catch A Wave (second) has beaten Leap To Fame (third) home.

The other fascinating runner in the Smoken Up is comeback star Captain Ravishing, who has looked good winning both runs on the comeback trail from injury.

His trainer, Freddy Taiba, concedes it's another big class but is excited to get a guide on where Captain Ravishing is at ahead of the Victoria Cup.

"He had a good blow after he won last time, so we felt he needed another run before the Victoria Cup," he said.

 

Related News

16 February 2025
Leap To Fame claims third straight Horse of the Year title
Triple Crown champion Leap To Fame has been anointed the Queensland Harness Horse of the Year for a third successive occasion at tonight’s Queensland Harness Awards in Brisbane. Another historic season saw the now six-year-old further confirm his spot amongst the nation’s all-time greats,...
16 February 2025
Big results for Martello as Hammer drops at Melton and Albury
Lightly raced pacer Rocknroll Hammer completed a memorable 24 hours for prominent owner Domenic Martello after he took out the Prydes Easifeed Pace at Melton on Saturday night.
16 February 2025
GOODFORM - Ryan's tips and strategy for Echuca Sunday night
Ryan Phelan has the tips, strategy and Quaddie for a great Sunday night card.
16 February 2025
Attagirl scores first up in Tasmania
Captain Crunch three-year-old filly Attagirl proved too good for her rivals when scoring in the Fehlbergs Produce Sprint Lane Pace (2090m) in Hobart on Friday night. Attagirl ($2.20 fav) is trained by Craig Jamieson, a former Kiwi who has been based in Victoria for the past three seasons. Driver Mark...
15 February 2025
Calum chasing Mohr wins at Carrick Park
Owner-breeder Calum Mohr hopes to win a race that will mean a lot to him at the Carrick Park meeting on Sunday afternoon, the Don Peck Memorial (2510m), honouring his grandfather. Mohr breeds Ultimate Mod, which he races in partnership with his father, Andrew, in the up to 49 national rating event. Ultimate...
Click for more