Callmethebreeze winning the 2024 Kilmore Trotters Cup
THE best trotter in the Brisbane Inter Dominion series will take his most important step towards it in a Melton trial tonight (Tuesday).
Multiple European Group 1 winner and former Great Southern Star champion Callmethebreeze hasn’t raced since galloping at Melton on October 12, last year.
Trainer Andy Gath admits it’s been “quite a challenge” getting Callmethebreeze to this stage.
“We’d hoped to have him back racing about six weeks ago and he was on target for that, but he’s just had a few small and niggling things since,” he said.
“Last Saturday was the best he’s been and it’s given us the confidence to push on with some optimism.
“I even nominated him for a race this week, but we’ll focus on the trial and take a guide from that as to where he’s at.
“There is a race (at Melton) the week before the Inter Dominion starts and that’s what we’re looking at, to get the one run into him before Brisbane.”
Callmethebreeze won three of his six runs for Anton Golino when he was head trainer for Yabby Dams, but battled a hoof injury when second to Just Believe in the 2024 TAB Trot at Cambridge.
The entire moved to Andy Gath’s stable in the middle of last year and won his first three starts for the barn before galloping and finishing last at his most recent run in the Group 1 Bill Collins Sprint last October.
“The series is thinning out a bit and we know how good this guy is when he’s right,” Gath said.
“It’s just now things are coming together. I’m hoping we’re coming out the other side at the right time.”
Gath’s star pacer Catch A Wave will also trial at Melton tonight in preparation for the Brisbane Inter Dominion.
“Like Callmethebreeze, he’ll have that run the week before the Inter Dominion starts,” he said.
Catch A Wave had a short break after returning from Perth where he ran ninth in the Nullarbor and fourth in the Fremantle Cup.
Gath said his honest veteran pacer Tango Tara and the Queensland-owned Hector also looked set to join his Brisbane raiders.
“There’s a chance My Ultimate Barney could go, but that would just be a hit and run for the Queensland Derby (July 19),” he said.
“We haven’t totally ruled out Watts Up Partytime going, either, but he’s had a long campaign and the 3157m of the final doesn’t suit a speed trotter like him.”
PHOTO: Stuart McCormick
