Gath back in trotting spotlight

A few weeks can be a long time in harness racing. Just ask Andy Gath.

With Victorian Horse of the Year winners like Tornado Valley and Majestuoso in retirement and no trotting stars in his Long Forest barn, the master trainer had accepted it might be some time before he was back lifting one of squaregaiting’s big Group 1 trophies.

But things can change quickly. Earlier this month, Gath was offered elite-level performers Im Ready Jet (Quaker Jet) and Callmethebreeze (Trixton) – as well as the very handy Revelstoke – from prominent owner-breeder Pat Driscoll after he parted ways with long-time conditioner Anton Golino.

“I’ve been around a while and the big races are what keep us going these days,” Gath said.

“I’ve been fortunate with Tornado Valley, Mclovin and Majestuoso – I’ve just been rolling into big trot race after big trot race – then all of a sudden Tweedledee is the best trotter in your stable.

“Then these two rock up.”

Multiple Group 1 winner Im Ready Jet won first-up for Gath last weekend, while Callmethebreeze is set to make his debut for the stable on Saturday night at Melton Entertainment Park.

The former European trotter won this year’s Great Southern Star Final – nailing champion rival Just Believe in the shadows of the post – and has prizemoney earnings over a whopping $1.7million.

He’s an established star and will start favourite from his back row draw in tomorrow’s Renwick Farms NZ Trotters Free For All.

“There’s a lot to like about him,” Gath said. “He’s quite an imposing horse to look at, and obviously we know what he has achieved in Australia and in France before he came here.

“He can win (Saturday), there’s no doubt about that. Second row over the short first-up is never an easy task… I think he’ll run a pretty good race whether he wins or not.”

The 55-year-old Gath knows what it takes to win Grand Circuit races. He’s triumphed in 17 of them – five with pacers and 12 with trotters – across a period spanning 2001 to 2024. And while Callmethebreeze won’t be set for December’s Inter Dominion championships in New South Wales, October 12’s Bill Collins Trotters Sprint or the 2025 Great Southern Star in February might be his immediate chances to add to that brilliant record.

by Tim O’Connor, for HRV