Catch A Wave snatches win in return to form

Proven pacer Catch A Wave (Captaintreacherous) showed a welcome return to form when he snatched victory in the last stride harness racing win In the IRT Free For All at Melton on Saturday evening.

Catch A Wave has had a lean run of late and his last win was in a Free For All at Gloucester Park in April this year. He didn’t perform that well when he went for the Inter Dominion at Albion Park during July. He was freshened up after his Queensland trip but was not fancied against the highly rated Eureka candidates Bay Of Biscay and Fighter Command.

From the second line, Kate Gath on Catch A Wave allowed the brown gelding to drop back in the field to the rear.

Keayang Tokyo who was well supported was taken to the lead early on with Fighter Command caught outside the leader. No sooner had the field settled down Mark Pitt on Bay Of Biscay made his move around the field to then give Fighter Command the trail behind him. Better Isolate was tucked away behind the leader.

Keayang Tokyo increased the tempo along the back straight with Bay of Biscay drawing closer and Fighter Command poised ready to make his run. At this stage and around the final corner Catch A Wave was still a clear last but he was winding up out wide.

CATCH A WAVE AUG 23 REPLAY

Bay Of Biscay was making heavy weather of hauling in Keayang Tokyo who was giving plenty of fight. Slowly Fighter Command started to gather in the leaders but Catch A Wave out wide sprouted wings and he defeated Fighter Command by half a neck with Keayang Tokyo in third ahead of Bay Of Biscay.

What made Catch A Wave’s run more remarkable was that they run their last 400 metres in 26.5 seconds but Catch A Wave made up at least twelve metres so his final quarter must surely as one of the fastest ever recorded at Melton.

Driver Kate Gath exclaimed her delight in Catch A Wave’s win.

“We finally got in a race where they weren’t worried about us for once. It’s so hard when you’re driving in these races they just drive to beat us home”.

“Tonight I thought we’d drive him cold we know how good he can get home and it worked out really well. They weren’t worried to beat us and it made the difference”.

“I knew the first quarter was slow so they were going to zip home. But to think they’d run 26.5 seconds for the last quarter. I don’t know what he’s run but I was a long way off at the 400 metres so he was super impressive”.

Gath indicated that Catch A Wave would be set for the Group 1 Len Smith Mile at Menangle on September 6.

“Probably he won’t run before that. Andy might have another race in mind . He generally goes good when he has a lead up race into a big race. But the way he went tonight he hasn’t raced for a while so he might not need that”.

Fighter Command was gallant in defeat and did his Eureka chances no harm. Eureka favourite Bay Of Biscay had a hard run although he failed to show that spark at the finish of the event despite the very fast final quarter which may explain why he couldn’t win.

For complete race results, click here.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink