Summer heats up for Catch A Wave

To suggest Andy Gath is leaving his options open with stable harness racing star Catch A Wave (Captaintreacherous) could be described as a massive understatement.

While all roads ultimately lead to Hunter Cup night, the question is: which pathway will the brilliant four-year-old follow?

Gath raised many eyebrows when he nominated Catch A Wave to take his place in the first heat of the Nutrien Equine Mercury 80 in Melton on Friday night (Jan. 20).

The remaining qualifier for the unique 1200m sprint series is on February 28 before it culminates with a $50,000 final at headquarters on Hunter Cup night.

And that’s where it gets interesting.

On the same program is the Group 2 4YO Bonanza, where the winner automatically gains a berth in the Chariots Of Fire a fortnight later.

Gath cites the need for a lead-up race in preparation for Hunter Cup night as the reason Catch A Wave will chance his arm against the older speedsters in the Mercury heat.

“The horse will need a hit-out this week and the heat of the Mercury seems a good race for him,” Gath said.

Gath concedes the 4YO Bonanza could still be on Catch A Wave’s Hunter Cup night itinerary.

“He’s got to still qualify for the Mercury final, and if he does or doesn’t, the Bonanza is still an option,” he said.

Gath then threw a curve ball into potential proceedings.

“Or he could be nominated for the Hunter Cup,” he said.

Gath also didn’t rule out the possibility Catch A Wave could in fact be interstate on Hunter Cup night.

“Then there is always the option of contesting the Hondo Grattan at Menangle as a lead-up for the Chariots,” he said.

The only certainty is that Catch A Wave will line-up on Friday night from a wide front row draw.

“It is no gimme race,” Gath said.

“For some reason the slowest quarter in these 1200 metre races is often the third (quarter) and we’ve seen horses win from back in the field.”

Gath said Catch A Wave’s authoritative all-the-way win in the Group 1 Vicbred final for three-year-old colts and geldings vindicated his belief that the pacer was a more mature racehorse this campaign.

“He flew the gate of his own accord in the Vicbred final and then he came back straight underneath (driver) Kate (Gath) when she asked him to,” he said.

Group 1-winning pacer Hurricane Harley is back with Emma Stewart after a stint in Western Australia and will line-up for his first start since November 4 in the Mercury heat, while last year’s overall series victor Bulletproof Boy is back for another crack at the 1200m scamper.

All nine horses in the field will start from the front line, with the race to go at 8.22pm.

For complete race entries, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harness Racing Victoria