Secret weapon recruited to help resurrect top trotter

The go-to farrier for champion thoroughbred trainer Ciaron Maher could be the man to resurrect star trotter Callmethebreeze’s (Trixton) career.

John Bunting, well-known for playing a huge role in Gold Trip’s Melbourne Cup win, has been overseeing extensive treatment on Callmethebreeze’s troublesome hooves.

“The news is good,” trainer Andy Gath said. “His feet are good and he’s only a week away from coming back into our stable.

“Pat (Driscoll, owner) arranged for John (Bunting) to get involved and he’s been overseeing everything.

“We’ve had to go back to move forward and, given the horse’s long history with foot issues, hopefully this is the best thing we could have done.

“He’s been on the treadmill and water-walker at Tyrone Abela’s place, so he’s got some fitness. He hasn’t been idle.”

But Gath stressed it would be slow and steady when last year’s Great Southern Star winner returns to work in his Long Forest stable.

“We’re all on the same page and we won’t rush him at all. Time is on our side, so we’ll aim towards the (Brisbane) Inter Dominion.”

Callmethebreeze hasn’t raced since galloping when 10^th in the Group 1 Bill Collins Sprint at Melton on October 12.

He had won his three previous runs after switching from Anton Golino to Gath’s stable.

“Even in those three wins, only once did he look really comfortable and that was Kilmore, so he has probably been feeling his feet for a while,” Gath said.

Gath’s latest trotting “find” Watts Up Partytime, who caused big upsets in a heat and final of the recent Great Southern Star series, will chase more Group 1 glory in the $100,000 Hammerhead Mile at Menangle on March 8.

He takes another step towards that when he drops back to a restricted class race at Melton on Saturday night.

“It won’t be easy, despite the drop in class, especially if Aldebaran Arcux finds the lead,” Gath said.

“He does seem to have gone to another level this campaign, though, not just in his races, but also in training.

“His work before the Great Southern Star was the best he’s done and that series seems to brought him on further again.

“He’s owned in NSW and loves the sprint racing, so we’ll take him to Menangle.”

Watts Up Partytime will accompany stablemate and former Miracle Mile winner Catch A Wave to NSW in coming weeks.

Gath said a focus on sprint racing in the build-up to the $1 million Miracle Mile on March 8 was the reason for putting Catch A Wave in a support race rather than the Terang Cup tomorrow (Friday night).

“We just think it’ll keep him fresher and sharper,” he said.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Victoria