Kate’s enviable book of drives includes exciting mare

Kate Gath is poised to extend her lead in the Metropolitan Drivers’ Premiership with an enviable book of harness racing drives at Melton on Saturday night (Jun. 17).

The gifted reinswoman will take the reins behind six runners who are prominent in pre-race betting markets.

Gath partners the Emma Stewart-trained $1.55 favorite Encipher (Captaintreacherous) in the night’s feature Allied Express Cinderella Stakes, with the daughter of Captaintreacherous coming off a last start win in the Richmond Lass Stakes.

Gath said the outside front row draw over the sprint trip will represent its challenge.

“It will be a bit tough over the 1720 from the draw but while Encipher doesn’t often win by big margins she just knows how to win,” Gath said.

With slots slowly filling up in the TAB Eureka, the four-year-old boasts the form for consideration from those slot holders who have yet to declare a nomination for the race.

“There are not many slots left but if she is going well nearer to the race she might be on someone’s radar,” she said.

Earlier in the night Magnetic Terror (Terror To Love) will be out to make amends for his first up defeat at Melton a fortnight ago in the first heat of the Metropolitan Pace.

“He is a good chance to work to the front again and he should be better for that first up run,” she said.

Gath is hoping for a change of fortune when she climbs behind stable mate Sly Terror and attempts to negotiate her way from an inside back row alley in the second heat of the Metropolitan Pace.

“He has no luck at his past two starts at Melton and he’s got an inside second row draw again but he is going well and only needs a bit of luck and he’ll be somewhere in the finish,” she said.

Yambukian (Bettor’s Delight) has to contend with a wide draw in The Big Screen Company Pace but Gath said she would press forward in the early stages.

“There is some chance he could find the front, so we will go forward and chance our luck,” she said.

“He is a big gangly horse and to be competitive in this grade he probably needs to lead.”

The Emma Stewart prepared mare Dannemore (Betting Line) is favored to extend her picket fence form line in the Congratulations Kerryn Manning OAM Pace.

The daughter of Betting Line has won all four starts since arriving from New Zealand earlier this year.

“I like her although she can be a bit lazy but this is a winnable race for her,” she said.

Gath’s other driving engagement at the meeting stable runner Vacation Hill ($5) is on the second line of betting behind Ultimate Stride ($1.80 fav) in the Woodlands Stud Noopy Kiosk Trotters Free For All.

For complete race entries, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harness Racing Victoria