Wave ready to roll

Past harness racing winners of the Chariots Of Fire have traditionally performed well in the Miracle Mile.

The 2022 Chariots winner Better Eclipse ran third in the Mile and in 2021 Expensive Ego finished a close second to his stablemate King Of Swing. This year two Victorian pacers will contest tomorrow night’s million-dollar feature after staging an epic battle in the $250,000 Group 1 feature a fortnight ago.

The Andy Gath-trained and Kate Gath-driven Catch A Wave (Captaintreacherous) upstaged long odds-on favourite Captain Ravishing in one of the best performances seen in that race’s 16-year history and both will take their place in the eight-horse field.

Captain Ravishing, who is trained by Emma Stewart, did not fare well at Sunday’s barrier draw and will start from gate seven, with only Expensive Ego drawn wider than him.

With the reserves for the Mile unlikely to gain a run, Catch A Wave has drawn marginally better to start from gate four.

Trained by Andy Gath and to be driven by his wife Kate, he was ultra-impressive when winning the Chariots Of Fire and Kate is hoping he can bring the same form into tomorrow night’s race.

“He is just a beautiful horse that has a big motor, and he means so much to us all,” said Kate.

“What he did in the Chariots of Fire was just mind blowing.

“Captain Ravishing is a wonderful horse and for Catch A Wave to be able to sit up outside him for the majority of the trip and still win was quite incredible.

“But tomorrow night’s race is super strong.

“The field and the barrier draw have made it a very intriguing contest and we will have to be at our very best if we are to take it out, that’s for sure.

“If he reproduces his effort from a fortnight ago, there is no doubt he will be a big chance of winning it.

“Just being in the race is a huge thrill for Andy and me as well as Catch A Wave’s owners.

“And if we are good enough to take it out, it will certainly be a special moment.”

For complete Menangle race entries, click here.

by Michael Dumesny, for HRNSW