Callmethebreeze no certainty for NZ trip

Great Southern Star harness racing winner Callmethebreeze (Trixton) will need to run well and trot smoothly at Swan Hill on Friday night to head across to New Zealand.

Trainer Andy Gath saw some positives in a second placing to former Kiwi trotter Lovemetoo in a Melton trial today.

“He didn’t warm-up that well, but he trotted well enough in the trial, even though he didn’t win,” he said.

“They ran home in quick time, I think he went about a 27.1sec quarter.

“It’s enough to press ahead to Swan Hill and we’ll use that to decide if we put him on the plane next week.

“He would need to not only run well, but trot well too at Swan Hill to make the trip.”

Callmethebreeze impressively won his first three starts for Gath before trotting roughly in the final lap and galloping on the home bend when tailed-out behind Just Believe in the Group 1 Bill Collins Trotters’ Sprint at Melton on October 12.

Gath and wife, Kate, have been busily working on the superstar French import since.

“Hopefully everything goes well Friday and we take him, but if we don’t, we’re still going. Catch A Wave is definitely going over (to NZ),” Gath said.

“We’re really happy with him at home and expect him to run well, but knowing it won’t be easy from the draw (outside) back row on Saturday night (at Melton).

“He’s going to NZ because the Matthews family (owners) are keen on the trip and, for some reason, he seems to go so well away from home.”

Gath said it was unlikely star trotting mare Im Ready Jet would go to NZ.

“We thought about taking her, more if Callmethebreeze didn’t go, but we think we’ll keep her at home now.

“If it means we only take Catch A Wave, then so be it.”

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by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Victoria