Maybe now people will start listening to Andy Gath.
The decorated trainer has been saying for months that Catch A Wave is special and the best pacer he’s trained.
Gath hasn’t been fussed by Captain Ravishing stealing him limelight during that time, but he has been frustrated by lack of respect given to Catch A Wave in some quarters.
In early October he made an impassioned plea for HRV to give Catch A Wave a spot in the Victoria Cup field.
It didn’t happen and Gath was annoyed.
Fast-forward to early this month and it was the same story. Gath pleaded his case, somewhat reluctantly resigned to his fate, for Catch A Wave to be given a start in the 12-horse Hunter Cup field.
Again, the answer was no.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing and what Catch A Wave did to win the Chariots Of Fire makes it look silly he was overlooked for a Victoria and Hunter Cup run.
But Gath’s point is that he knew how good Catch A Wave was and felt strongly that the young star had already shown it at the races.
Gath also felt, as a passion harness lover not just trainer, that Catch A Wave would have added some much-needed chatter and speculation had he been in the Victoria and/or Hunter Cups.
Could the young gun beat the established stars?
He would have been an X-factor, an unknown, a wildcard.
So now, in what is Victoria’s loss and NSW’s gain, Catch A Wave’s first test against the older “big boys” will come at Menangle, rather than in his own backyard at Melton.
There’s some irony in that given the greatness of the Miracle Mile was built as much on field selection and speculation as it was the race itself through its formative years when Peter V’Landys was at helm of Harold Park.
Whether Catch A Wave wins the Miracle Mile or not, he will be the most fascinating runner.
Well, that’s with the possible exception of Captain Ravishing, should he tackle the race after his Chariots Of Fire defeat.
Although not many Chariots Of Fire winners have won the Miracle Mile – Have Faith In Me was the most recent in 2016 – they invariably run very well.
The past five Chariots winners have all be placed in the Miracle Mile: Better Eclipse (last year, third), Expensive Ego (2021, second), Lochinvar Art (2020, second), Poster Boy (2019, third) and Jilliby Kung Fu (2018, second).
It’s been a manic time for the Catch A Wave team, who also snared a slot in the inaugural $2.1 million TAB Eureka just hours before the Chariots win.
The NSW-based Daniel Cordina, of Cordina Chickens fame, locked-in Catch A Wave for his slot in the world’s richest race.
“Andy approached me about it a while back now and we agreed in principle, but it wasn’t the afternoon before the Chariots we actually signed the paperwork with the owners,” Cordina said.
“It couldn’t have turned out better and we’re super excited to be teaming up with a horse like Catch A Wave.”
Beyond the Miracle Mile, the TAB Eureka on September 2 will be Catch A Wave’s sole focus.
“Part of the reason we were so keen to tackle the Chariots is to get him some experience travelling and racing at Menangle, where the Eureka is being run,” Gath said.
“It’s already proven really valuable. Kate (Gath) said he didn’t handle the track overly well at his first run, but felt a different horse in the Chariots.
“Lots of trainers will tell you the same thing. Menangle is such a different and bigger track to all others and most horses will benefit a lot from having a run on it.”
That’s worth keeping in mind with Captain Ravishing, too. The Chariots defeat was his first run at Menangle for almost two years.
And, it was also the first time he has been buzzed off the gate.
Yes, he wasn’t the same horse in the Chariots to what we had seen in Melbourne, but he certainly wasn’t disgraced, either. He did run second in a 1min49.1sec mile after doing plenty wrong, most notably ducking-in at crucial stages.
And remember, It was only his 14th career start.
Just as he so superbly bounced back and improved from a defeat in the Victoria Derby final, there’s every reason to think Captain Ravishing will only learn and be a better horse for his defeat in the Chariots.
Pictures: Club Menangle
The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the author and may not be attributed to or represent policies of Harness Racing Victoria, which is the state authority and owner of thetrots.com.au.