Riding the Wave of feature success

The harness racing win by Catch A Wave (Captaintreacherous) in the $250,000 Cordina Chicken Farms Chariots of Fire at Tabcorp Menangle on Saturday night (Feb. 18) was one for the ages.

Driven by Kate Gath for her husband Andy, the four-year-old gelding did it the tradesman’s-like way by sitting without cover for the mile journey and then overpowering the leader and long odds-on favourite Captain Ravishing to record one of the most arrogant wins ever seen in the Group 1 feature.

After covering the first quarter in a scintillating 26 seconds, driver Mark Pitt was able to give Captain Ravishing a breather through the second stanza before he again ramped things up with 800 metres to run.

Rounding the home turn he appeared to have Catch The Wave’s measure as Gath allowed her charge to drop down onto the pegs while the rest of the field were struggling to keep in touch.

But the Victorian never shirked his task, coming off Captain Ravishing’s back halfway down the lane and going right on by to score by a widening 2.6 metre margin.

One of the outsiders for the feature, Cantfindabettorman (Luke McCarthy) produced an eye-catching run when he flooded home from near last to run third.

After the race, Gath was ecstatic over Catch A Wave’s win and admitted that it was not easy sailing for her.

“He wanted to hang on me for most of the race when up outside of the leader and even when I dropped back in on Captain Ravishing’s back, he was still wanting to do the same,” said Kate.

“But at the same time, he was still travelling and felt strong.

“Coming into the straight we had the leader’s coattails and I felt we were still a big chance of making a race of it.

“But to be honest, I really thought that Pitty’s horse would find another gear.

“Thankfully for us Captain Ravishing never lifted, and this fellow was able to go into overdrive and run away from him in the end.

“The win is very satisfying, not only for me, and Andy but also for the owners, the Matthews family.

“His owner Richard Matthews had been waiting for a horse like this guy for many years but sadly he passed away a few months ago and did not get to see this special win.

“So this one is for him.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Michael Dumesny, for HRNSW