Andy Gath can’t pinpoint what turned Catch A Wave around, but he hope it lasts another two weeks.
The eight-time Group 1 winner returned to his dazzling best when she smashed all sectional times record winning a hot Melton free-for-all last night.
Catch A Wave, who has banked over $2 million, came wide and ripped home his closing splits in an unthinkable 52.8 and 25.5sec.
“Watching the race, you thought he had no chance. The lead time and first quarter were slow and you knew the leaders, who are good horses, would run home super fast,” Gath said.
“They did just that, but the ‘old Tex’ turned up and did what very horses can do, round them up with an incredible sprint.”
Gath said three slight tweaks may have helped turn Catch A Wave around after going winless in his past six starts.
“I didn’t trial just before the race, which I’ve always done with him. Instead we fast-worked him at home twice in a row, on Thursday and Friday,” he said.
“Kate and I also sat down and talked through how best to drive him. He’s so fast for that first 400m when you ask him, we felt Kate should hold him up as long as possible and to save him for a 400m burst, instead of going from the 600m if she was a long way off the leaders.
“She did it to a tee and as impossible as it looked in the run, he really unleashed and ran them down.”
The win has Catch A Wave primed for a title defence and potential ninth Group 1 win in the $150,000 Len Smith Mile at Menangle on TAB Eureka night, Saturday week.
“He won the race last year when he wasn’t going this well,” Gath said.
“The plan was to race him again this week and for the Len Smith to be his first run in as many weeks, but we just need him to reproduce what he did last night, so he won’t race this week. It’s straight into the Len Smith.
“I’d like to think the few things we did helped turn him around, but you’re always just guessing with this horse.
“He’s the best (pacer) I’ve trained, but he’s also been the most challenging and frustrating times.
“You never quite know what you’re going to get from him at the races. He can be going great at home and then not deliver at the races.
“He’s also had a few hoof issues since the Inter Dominion (last month), so I’m sure that’s been a factor, but it’s great to see him back showing his absolute best.
“The Len Smith won’t be easy, but he loves Menangle and there aren’t many big races you can go in with a horse like him when you don’t have to take on any of Leap To Fame, Swayzee or Don Hugo.”
Catch A Wave’s win was his 27th from 59 starts with another 12 placings and he’s banked $2,256,385.
