Catch A Wave 2023 Chariots of Fire Photo by Hamilton Content Creators
TRAINER Andy Gath agrees everything is in Catch A Wave's favour for his fourth clash with Leap To Fame, but he's still not confident.
The scoreline is 2-1 Leap To Fame's way, but this time, the short distance (1720m) and barrier draw – Catch A Wave has gate two compared to Leap To Fame out in seven – are both big pluses for Catch A Wave in Saturday night's $50,000 Smoken Up Sprint at Melton.
Despite and due to Leap To Fame's greatness, the Queenslander is a commanding $1.60 favourite, with Catch A Wave at $3.70.
"Am I confident? No," Gath said. "Are we going there knowing we have to take advantage of the draw and lead if we can? Yes."
"Every time you race Leap To Fame you have to be ready to run a track record, history says that, and I just don't know if Catch A Wave is ready to do that this week."
"History also tells us that Catch A Wave is a much better horse for some reason when he's on the quick back-up and he's coming off a break into this race."
"I know he had the trial on Tuesday (at Melton), but I'm sure he'll be better again for the Victoria Cup next week. That's the main target, and that's why he's racing this week."
"But we'll be trying to lead, and we think we can, and we'll want to hold the front."
"I've got a horse, Tango Tara, who has run 1min50sec in front for 1720m (at Melton) and Catch A Wave is much better than him, so they should go super time."
Former Hunter Cup winner Lochinvar Art holds the Melton 1720m track record at 1min48.6sec.
It has been a less than ideal week for Leap To Fame, who spent two days travelling from Brisbane to Melbourne by road after connections were unable to secure a flight.
And the $3.2 million earner has only raced once since July 27, when he returned to win a 2138m free-for-all at Albion Park last Saturday night.
Like Gath, Leap To Fame's trainer-driver Grant Dixon is adamant his star will be better for this week's run.
"That's why we were so keen to get down (to Melton) the week before because we couldn't get another lead-up race at home," Dixon said.
"He thrives on the racing, and as good as he went last week, this run should really top him off for the (Victoria) Cup."
Last year's Victoria Cup was the only time in their three clashes where Catch A Wave (second) has beaten Leap To Fame (third) home.
The other fascinating runner in the Smoken Up is comeback star Captain Ravishing, who has looked good winning both runs on the comeback trail from injury.
His trainer, Freddy Taiba, concedes it's another big class but is excited to get a guide on where Captain Ravishing is at ahead of the Victoria Cup.
"He had a good blow after he won last time, so we felt he needed another run before the Victoria Cup," he said.
