‘Owned N. Jenkin, trained A. Gath, driven K. Gath’ has become the new ‘caught R. Marsh, bowled D. Lillee’, with the trots triumvirate producing a startling start to tonight’s Melton racing, including claiming a Group 1.
Their trotter, Central Otago, broke through for his first career win in the Aldebaran Park Vicbred Platinum Home Grown Classic for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings, one of four Kate Gath wins from the night’s opening five races.
The victory was also the third straight for trainer Andy Gath and a second for owner Norm Jenkin, with all three also combining to win the night's opening race - the DNR Logistics Pace - with Globe Trekker.
Central Otago was purchased from breeder Yabby Dam Farms after his first nine starts had produced two placings, with the supremely bred Love You out of Sumthingaboutmaori following his second on debut for the Gath stable with tonight's Group 1 victory.
“We had this race in mind and Andy was adamant to get him,” Kate told Trots Vision post-race. “He is a nice horse.
“These races aren’t always easy to win, but I thought his run at Maryborough was really good (in the heat). He only got out late and they just dashed up the straight and he hit the line really good.”
It gave Kate plenty of confidence for tonight’s $50,000 final and that only bloomed after she won the early speed battle to grab the lead control of the race.
“I was hoping to hold the front tonight and hold out (Michael) Bellman on (Sweet On You) and once we did that I thought it was all over.”
And so it would prove, with a 29.6s third quarter blowing open the field and a 28.1s run to the line clinching the eight-metre win, with Sweet On You second and a further 24 metres back to third-placed Could Dowitharain.
Kate’s magical night then continued in the Group 3 Economix Jodie’s Babe, with Emma Stewart-trained Techys Angel absolutely dominant in her open age debut.
A Breeders Crown semi-final and Vicbred Super Series heat winner as a three-year-old, the mare was first up since December 29 and looked in a class of her own in producing a six-metre win, getting home in 55.6s to score comfortably.
Later on there were familiar faces at the head of affairs in the night’s open pacing and trotting races.
Anthony Butt’s Wolf Stride only enhanced his reputation by sitting outside Max Delight for the last lap before advancing clear amid a 55.7s last 800 metres to score in the Group 2 City Of Melton Plate XXXII.
“We took the conservative approach (in the run) a couple of times with him, just looking after him, but sooner or later he’s got to do what he did tonight – work in the races,” Butt told Trots Vision. “He’s progressing really well, I think he’s got one or two more races at Wagga and then he’ll have a nice break and then a really nice year next year.”
Red Hot Tooth then made an impressive return to the winning circle in the Group 3 Resimax Scotch Notch Memorial, when she took advantage of a rare and welcome favorable draw to lead all-the-way.
For trainer Kari Males, reinswoman Kerryn Manning attacked a long way from home, producing 28.7s and 28.6s second and third quarters to open a modest gap on major threats McLovin and Sparkling Success.
The latter two battled on boldly and fought to the line, ultimately finishing in that order 2.8 and 5.5 metres adrift respectively, but it always looked Red Hot Tooth’s race and she registered her first win in 10 outings.
“It was a long straight but she’s tough and she just keeps trying,” Manning said. “Paul (Males) gave me the tactics tonight to ‘don’t let them catch you’ and it panned out good.”
