Ageless marvel Gath ready to produce more Stardust

Brian Gath’s trademark dry wit shines through when he reflects on his role in the recent NSW Inter Dominion grand final night.

“I don’t think I ever got that many calls from the media at the very height of my career,” he grinned.

Gath, of course, created history when at the age of 77 he became the oldest driver in Inter Dominion history to contest a final. He had to be content with a cheeky fifth placing on emerging trotting mare ­Illawong Stardust.

But Gath was the story of the carnival, that was until a certain protest hearing changed the result of the pacing final for the first time since the Inter Dominion started way back in 1936.

As much as it would’ve been a fairytale result had Gath won that trotting feature, it would have lacked a little something. Nothing against NSW or Menangle, but Gath is a Victorian through-and-through. If he’s going to do something ludicrously amazing as that, it should be in his own backyard.

Remember, the greatest moment of his career came in Victoria – Moonee Valley to be exact – back in 1978 when Gath trained and drove the brilliant sit-sprinter Markovina to win the Inter Dominion pacing final.

It’s not as silly as it sounds that Gath could yet ice his 63-year career in the most amazing fashion. The Inter Dominion returns to Victoria late next year and, all going well, Illawong Stardust will only be better by then.

Gath, who boasts more than 3600 career wins, partners Illawong Stardust again in another feature race, the $100,000 Group 1 Vicbred Super Series 4YO Trotting Mares Final at Melton tonight.

With the scratching of Pink Galahs due to a foot abscess, the Anton Golino-prepared Im Ready Jet is a warm favourite. But Illawong Stardust is a clear second pick in the betting and Gath wouldn’t swap his drive for any, especially now she’s drawn the pole.

“People laughed when I said she’d run a heck of a race in the Inter Dominion final because she was such an outsider, but her run was great,” he said.

“That was a great experience for her and she’s getting better and better all the time.

“I know this is such a good group of mares, but she’ll run a big race, I’m sure.”

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