Trots Centre: Gath's "big", "huge", towering beast unleashed

Andy Gath can't think of too many horses he's trained bigger in stature than his recent New Zealand acquisition Mr Bohannon, who steps out on the biggest stage of his Australian racing career this evening.

The giant son of Washington VC has been ultra impressive in his two starts since joining the Long Forest stable, with back-to-back success at Kilmore on November 8 and 13.

Tonight he lines up in a support race on a bumper Tabcorp Park Melton card, which serves as a curtain-raiser to tomorrow night's mouth-watering Group 1 TAB Breeders Crown finals night.

"He's a big horse, he's probably the biggest horse I've ever trained I'd say," Gath said. "He's huge. I knew he was big, but I was a bit surprised how big he was once I saw him.

"His wither just towers over me. I'm not overly big either, but I don't have many that the wither just towers over me."

Size aside, there's plenty more to like about the former Kiwi, who Gath picked up after 10 starts in his home country. Putting it as nicely as possible, Gath said Mr Bohannon had beaten only "mediocre" opposition in his Kilmore triumphs, but had done so in good style. His wins over the 1690m have rated a slippery 1:54.3 and 1:56.8, with last halves of 57.0 and 56.5.

Given his ability to fly away from the mobile, the master trainer is happy to step him up in class for tonight's NR 65 to 74 Woodlands Stud Pace (2240m).

"He's got really good gate speed, which is probably the main reason I'm sort of happy to run him," Gath said. "I knew he was probably going to draw good.

"He has finished off in really good times and done it easy. He's still quite untapped. We probably don't know quite how good he is at this stage, but we are pretty confident he is going to be in front and going to be a hard horse to get past if he does happen to lead."

When pushed, Gath said Mr Bohannon was probably his best chance on tonight's card, but also felt stablemate Eureka was good value at around $4 in the TAB Make A Date With Play Pace (2240m).

GATH ON HIS OTHER CHANCES TONIGHT:

RACE 2: NUTRIEN EQUINE RTR SALE BREEDERS CROWN GRADUATE PACE
RAGNARR (driven by Kate Gath)
"He raced during the week. Backing up won't be an issue for him and probably enhances his chances I'd say. When you draw the back row, you need things to go your way. He seems like he has come back better this preparation compared to last preparation. He's a good each-way hope."

RACE 4: HYLAND FULL SUITS BREEDERS CROWN CHAMPIONSHIP (4YO TROTTING ENTIRES & GELDINGS)
MAJESTUOSO (driven by Kate Gath)
"It's going to be hard (to beat Always Ready). Last time we sat outside him, we couldn't beat him but admittedly we had to come around and sit outside him. We were off the second row. To be just drawn alongside him makes it a lot easier. We will have a little crack at the lead, he does get out pretty quick. He's at the top of his game."

RACE 5: TAB MAKE A DATE WITH PLAY PACE
EUREKA (driven by Kate Gath)
"He was average first-up, but it was probably trainer error. I had him a little bit underdone and the false start sort of set him off a little bit. It was a quick lead time and he really over-raced. I'd just forgive and forget his first-up run and expect that he's going to be pretty close to his best. He's definitely got a winning hope."

RACE 6: ULTIMATE MACHETE BREEDERS CROWN GRADUATE PACERS FREE FOR ALL
ARDEN VOYAGER (driven by Kate Gath)
"He's just a minor place hope from that draw."

RACE 7: SPORTSWRITER BREEDERS CROWN GRADUATE CUP
DIAMONDS N CASH (driven by Kate Gath)
"His figure form is nowhere near to how he has been going. He just has not had any luck his last three or four runs. Eventually his luck is going to turn and he's knocking on the door of winning a race and this might be it."

RACE 9: WOODLANDS STUD PACE
MR BOHANNON (driven by Kate Gath)
HIT THE SKY (driven by Glenn Gath)
"He is a nice horse and doesn't win out of turn, but is quite dangerous if he can have the right run and have the last crack at them. I think Mr Bohannon from the barrier draw, knowing that he'll probably be in front, is probably the clear pick of both of mine."

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