A big double for Kate Gath

Leading reinswoman Kate Gath capped off a remarkable ‘double’ after she partnered Pull The Other Leg (Lincoln Royal) to harness racing victory in the Stawell Pacing Cup. 

A noted sit sprint pacer, Pull The Other Leg was suited by the slick tempo during middle stages of the race and when Gath pulled out three wide the former New Zealand pacer let down into another gear. 

So quickly did Pull The Other Leg sprint from the 800 metre mark,  he went from last to first in the space of 400 metres. 

Gath had time to enjoy the scenery in the home straight as Pull the Other Leg ($10) cruised to victory holding a 10 metre margin on the line from the $2.15 favorite Platinum Stride with Ultimate Vinnie eight meters away third. 

Pull The Other Leg established a track record mile rate of 1:57.5 for the 2600 metres, eclipsing six tenths  of a second off the previous record. 

There is a fair chance Gath will sleep well tonight as she ran a personal best time in a half marathon at Melbourne earlier in the day. 

“I love my running and was up at 5am this morning to drive into Melbourne to run a half marathon, had breakfast with my sister then drove home and came her today, so it’s been a great day,” Gath said.  

Gath said she was committed to making the trip to Stawell despite the early morning rise. 

“I didn’t think it was an overly strong cup, having said that the speed needed to be on and that’s just the way he loved it and they just ran the race exactly for him to win it,” she said. 

“I’m not complaining and it worked out well.”  

The win was Gath’s first Stawell Cup success. 

“I don’t think I’ve won a Stawell Cup before, in fact I don’t win many races at Stawell –  I don’t come here often but it all worked out well today,” she said.  

The win took Pull The Other Leg’s stake earnings to more than $160,000. 

“He’s such a lovely horse,  I just wish Andy could find another one and he’s done such a good job and we love him,” she said. 

“He’s got gate speed if you need to use it and he loves sitting back as well and his owners are good supporters of our stable.”  

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink