No Inter Dom for Catch A Wave

Andy Gath has declared he won’t be targeting this year’s Inter Dominion Pacing Championship in Queensland with Catch A Wave (Captaintreacherous) as the Chariots of Fire and Miracle Mile harness racing champion begins his path towards the world’s richest harness race, the TAB Eureka.

The star son of Captaintreacherous is back at Gath’s Long Forest property after a spell and is building up his fitness as the stable plots a slow and steady return to the races.

Gath said the main focus was having the million-dollar earner at his best to tackle the TAB Eureka, which will have its inaugural running at Menangle on September 2.

“It’s just something you play by ear, but ideally he’d have at least one trial and maybe two runs (before the TAB Eureka),” Gath said.

“I think it helps that you’ve had experience around Menangle, we know what to expect and we know he travels well.

“We’ve got plenty of time up our sleeve, so it’ll be a long, slow build-up with plenty of groundwork.

“He’s in really tip-top order, his coat is shining. Everything else here has got a winter coat and looks like a woolly goat, but not him.”

While the TAB Eureka is at the top of the agenda for Catch A Wave – he’ll race for slot holders Cordina Racing – Gath is happy to look further forward on the calendar.

“After the Eureka, he’s got the four-year-old Vicbred in September and then it sort of rolls on. The Victoria Cup if we choose to, then maybe a bit of a break and whether or not we go to the Hunter Cup or just try target the Miracle Mile again.”

Gath said the Inter Dominion series was definitely off the table in 2023.

“He’s still a young horse, it’s going to be very hot when it’s on and three runs in a week… I don’t think he needs to go in it,” Gath said.

Catch A Wave’s two looks at Menangle resulted in Chariots of Fire and Miracle Mile triumphs, with the horse now boasting a career record of 17 wins from 22 starts for prizemoney earnings up over $1.1million.

Grant Dixon-trained Queenslander Leap To Fame was this week confirmed as a starter in the TAB Eureka, where he will race for owners Kevin and Kay Seymour.

Ahmed Taiba-trained Victorian Captain Ravishing is also locked in for the slot held by Danny and Jo Zavitsanos.

This year’s Inter Dominion series will be hosted by Queensland, with the heats on December 1, 5 and 9 before the grand finals on December 16.

by Tim O’Connor, for Harness Racing Victoria