Hope set for a break after $125,000 showdowns

Well-earned rests await Catch A Wave and Just Hope after the pair produced barnstorming all-the-way performances to dominate harness racing’s APG Vic Gold Bullion finals for three-year-olds at Melton on Saturday.

Connections of both said a tilt at Queensland’s lucrative winter carnivals were unlikely for their star pacers, who instead look set to be freshened for Victoria’s rich spring.

Few carry more hype than Andy Gath and Kate Gath’s Catch A Wave (by Captaintreacherous) and he did no harm to his reputation, recording a ninth win from 10 starts off extraordinary first and third quarters.

The Breeders Crown winner added a second Group 1 by twice pouring on the pressure in 27-second quarters to register a five-metre win ahead of impressive District Attorney despite a comparatively modest run to the line.

“It was good to get the win,” Kate Gath told TrotsVision. “He got a bit keen. We’ve got blocks on him to make sure that he behaves himself at the start, which he’s now doing, so we’ll probably hopefully be able to get those off and I think he will be a lot more relaxed (in the run).”

The start was certainly no problem with Catch A Wave rocketing off the gate to lead easily.

Despite being unchallenged he reeled off the quickest first 200 metres of any horse on the night, covering it in 12.57 seconds, while only Love Ina Chevy in the TAB Young Pedro Free For All had a quicker first 100 metres, with his 6.23 seconds narrowly shading Catch A Wave (6.24).

He raced friskly through a 27.4-second first quarter, balanced up with a 29.2 second and then broke the pack open in the third quarter (27.9 seconds). His slowest quarter was the last but, while District Attorney ran on brilliantly to claim second, was never threatened.

CATCH A WAVE REPLAY

“Tonight he was running that time easily and then when he got out so far in front around the corner he looked to switch off again, which he hadn’t done prior to that,” Gath said.

“He definitely settles without (the blocks), but I don’t know if we’ll score up without them. The fact he’s doing everything right, he has his last three runs and the trial, is really promising. Hopefully he’s getting a little bit more mature in that way.”

He’ll be given time off to build on that, with Gath saying “he will go for a little break”, adding “I don’t think we will target any of the bigger races in Queensland or anything with him yet, probably just set him for the big races later in the season.”

And a similar route looks in the path of Russell Jack-trained Just Hope (by Bettors Delight), who was similarly impressive in dominating the fillies’ version of the APG Gold Bullion three-year-old finals.

The second of two Group 1 wins on the night for Nathan Jack, with the first also bringing up his 2000^th career win, Just Hope also shot out of the gates, holding off an initial challenge from Petillante amid a 12.68-second first 200 metres.

Jack was then able to control the race without great pressure, upping the tempo through a 28.5-second third quarter and then clearing out with a 27.6 run to the line.

JUST HOPE REPLAY

“She’s the top of the list,” he said. “She only went a second slower than Catch A Wave tonight and did it probably a bit more comfortably than him.

“I do think that she’s a better filly sitting, but against these ones, when you are drawn there, obviously you take the opportunities.”

And she looks set to do that throughout Victoria’s spring and into summer, though Jack did flag that while a Queensland tilt was likely off the table an interstate mission might be on the cards.

“There was talk of Queensland, but I think we will probably give Queensland a miss at this stage,” he said. “The Vic Oaks is here and it’s $150,000 (in October) and then, just in the back of my mind, Perth is $150,000 and not many seem to travel over there. It’s only a week after here.

“So whether we miss (the Victoria Oaks) here and go to Perth and try and miss some of Clayton (Tonkin) and Emma (Stewart’s horses), that’s something we have to weigh up. And then you’ve got the Breeders Crown and the (Vicbred Super Series).”

But, before then, a well-earned rest: “definitely the paddock tomorrow”.

For complete Melton results, click here.

From Harness Racing Victoria