Excited Gath gets an ID shot at the one that got away

Saturday’s Inter Dominion trotting final is a race teaming with Hollywood stories just waiting to be told, none more so than Brian Gath’s bold bid to capture one of the few crowns to have so far escaped his grasp.

Gath, aged 77, will steer Illawong Stardust from gate nine in the championship final at 8.45pm and told thetrots.com.au’s Tim O’Connor he was “looking forward to going up there, it’s pretty exciting”.

“If they get moving along and start going three-deep around the back and home turn there are sure to be some real tired horses up the straight,” he said.

“I’m hoping I can poke along the fence and poke out somewhere. Halfway up the straight will be enough for me. She’s got a good will to win, she is a good mare.”

Gath claimed the pacing crown with Markovina in 1978 and won the Miracle Mile with Franco Tiger in 1992, the two titles he had most coveted, but said now “the only race really that I’d love is the trotting Inter Dominion”.

He and Tony Peacock get their chance at Menangle on Saturday.

WATCH: TIM O’CONNOR CHATS WITH BRIAN GATH AHEAD OF ID21 FINALS