Catch A Wave winning the 2024 Nullabor
ANDY Gath is all smiles in Perth.
And that’s a big contrast to when he first arrived in Perth this time last year.
Although Catch A Wave’s 2024 Perth raid ended in glory, it started with concerns.
“It’s a lot different this year,” Gath said. “I think we’ve got a better horse than we had 12 months ago, he’s certainly had a better preparation.
“And he has handled the trip much, much better. It took him two or three days to settle in last year, but this time he hasn’t skipped a beat. He’s eating and drinking well.
“I’m sure it’s got a lot to do with getting back to Greg and Skye Bond’s place where he absolutely thrived during his month or so there last year. It’s all familiar to him.
“Last year, I’d have scratched him from that free-for-all the first week if I could’ve without a penalty, but this time we can’t wait to run him.”
Catch A Wave ran fourth in the free-for-all last year before becoming the first horse to win the huge Nullabor/Fremantle Cup double.
The eight-time Group 1 winner clashes with boom local Mister Smartee tomorrow (Friday) night over 2130m.
Catch A Wave has the barrier advantage in gate five with Mister Smartee out wide in eight.
Despite that, Mister Smartee is $1.75 favourite over Catch A Wave at $2 in what looks like a two-horse battle.
While Gath likes the barrier draw, he said how advantageous it was would depend on Catch A Wave’s mood at the start.
“He’s become a bit hot and cold out of the gate as he’s gotten older,” he said. “If he’s on, I’m sure Kate will use the draw to stay in front of Mister Smartee, but that’ll be up to how she thinks he feels when they let them go.”
The other eastern states raider, Swayzee, will go straight into tomorrow (Friday) week’s $1.25mil Group 1 Nullarbor at Gloucester Park.
The other big gun, Inter Dominion runner-up Minstrel, has also deliberately been kept fresh and will go into the Nullarbor with four weeks between races.
PHOTO: Pacepix
