Trots Centre: Wolf 'hard to beat' in Minuteman return

It’s not every day do you get a call offering you a Miracle Mile placegetter to train.

But trainer Andy Gath knows there is a degree of “double-edged sword” to having one of Australia’s most exciting open-class pacers, Wolf Stride, join his stable.

When leviathan owner Emilio Rosati split with private trainer Anthony Butt in July, he dispersed his huge team of horses widely, but entrusted Gath with the pick of the crop.

“It’s a privilege to get him,” Gath said. “His record shows how good he is, he ran well in some of our biggest races earlier this year.

“But he came to us halfway through his preparation (after a spell) and we’ve been learning more about him every week.

“He’s not a flash track-worker so it’s hard to get a line on him at home, but we’ve been happy with his two trials.”

Wolf Stride ran on strongly from a long way back for fourth behind the brilliant General Dodge in a Melton trial on August 23, then led throughout in quick times to win a Geelong trial on Monday night.

“They went the last mile in 1min57.9sec and he ran home in 55 and 26.9sec and Kate (Gath, driver) said he did it well within himself,” Gath said.

Now it’s race time with Wolf Stride resuming in the TAB Minuteman Free For All (2100m) at Geelong on Saturday night.

The five-year-old hasn’t raced since landing his third Group 1 win in the Riverina Championship final at Wagga on April 4. It followed a fourth in the Hunter Cup behind Lochinvar Art and third in the Miracle Mile to King Of Swing.

“There are no easy races for him at his level, but it looks a good starting point. He’s drawn the back (gate eight), but he’s going there to win it, so he’ll be put into the race if the leaders back off the pace,” Gath said. “On what he’s done at the trials, I’m sure he’ll be hard to beat.

“No doubt we’ll learn more about him this week, which is why he’s running because there’s a $100,000 race for him the week after.”

That race is the new $100,000 Group 1 VHRC Caduceus Classic (1720m), slated for Melton, but likely to be run a regional track if Victoria’s lockdown and metropolitan curfew continues as expected.

Wolf Stride headlines a big night for Gath with four of his stable stars in action at Geelong.

Majestuoso and McLovin will tackle the Group 3 Hygain Melton Trotters Free For All (2100m), while emerging pacer Tango Tara is favourite in the Allied Express Pace (2100m).

Majestuoso returned with a fantastic win and lost no admirers with a close fourth at Kilmore.

“There’s a big race for him the week after as well. It’s not an overly strong race this week and it should top him off nicely for next week,” Gath said.

Next week’s race is the $50,000 Opus Group Australasian Trotting Championship at Group 1 level.

“It’s a standing start where he’ll get a 10m handicap, but he’ll love the 2700m trip. He won the race last year and he’s unbeaten in four starts over 2600m or further,” Gath said.

* story courtesy of News Corp Australia