Catch A Wave to tackle Miracle Mile

Giant-killer Catch A Wave (Captaintreacherous) will tackle the $1mil Miracle Mile after upstaging buzz harness racing pacer Captain Ravishing in the Chariots Of Fire.

But Captain Ravishing’s tilt at Australasia’s premier speed test looks over before it started.

Co-trainer Emma Stewart said Captain Ravishing would return to her Ballarat stables today, but added: “I think something isn’t quite right. He wasn’t himself.”

Catch A Wave was floated back from Sydney back to Gath’s stables near Melton, but will return on Thursday week.

“He’s definitely running in the Miracle Mile,” Gath said. “I wanted to run him in the Victoria and Hunter Cups and didn’t get a run, so I’m keen to have a crack at the Miracle Mile.

“It wasn’t on the radar as such because we had to win the Chariots to get a run, but he sat outside the prepost Miracle Mile favourite and beat him easily, so we’ve got to have a crack.”

In a stunning upset, $16 shot Catch A Wave sat outside and beat $1.15 favourite Captain Ravishing in a blazing 1min49.1sec mile.

CATCH A WAVE REPLAY

Driver Kate Gath described it as the biggest thrill of her stellar career.

“All things considered, it’s the best. He’s the best pacer we’ve had and to sit outside a horse like Captain Ravishing and beat him is a bit surreal.

“Then you add in the whole Richard (Matthews) layer and makes it mean so much more.”

Matthews, a huge and long-time Gath stable supporter, owned Captain Ravishing before losing a long battle with ill-health last September.

“He rang me the day before he passed away, when he knew he didn’t have long left, and said the horse was not to be sold. He wanted him to race on the family name,” Andy Gath said.

“He’s a lasting legacy of Richard for the family and he’s brought them together for special moments during a really hard time.

“I was thinking today how much Richard would love to be going to the Miracle Mile.”

Catch A Wave’s win was his 16th from just 21 starts and his third at Group 1 level.

While Catch A Wave produced a career-best performance, Captain Ravishing was down on his breathtaking recent form.

“He just wasn’t himself tonight,” driver Mark Pitt said. “He didn’t travel well and he wanted to duck in under pressure.

“He didn’t feel like the horse I’d been driving back home.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia