Photo by Pacepix
IT is time for Catch A Wave to stand up … again.
For all of his brilliance and stunning CV, the eight-time Group 1 winner has been an enigma in recent times.
But a gun draw and suitable race have trainer Andy Gath expecting him “to get the job done” in Saturday night’s Casey Classic (2240m) at Melton.
Catch A Wave has been plagued by niggling hoof issues stemming from an abscess after the Brisbane Inter Dominion final on July 19.
Sure, he won stunningly well at Melton two starts back, but either side of it, the hoof has been a battle.
“I think he’s finally right again, now. He seems really well,” Gath said.
“He hasn’t missed much work through it, so he’s pretty close to the mark.
“Like all good horses, he’ll improve on whatever he does this week with a view to the Victoria Cup, but he’s certainly ready to win.
“The past few races he’s been in have been random draws, but he’s randomly drawn badly and now the luck has turned his way.
“It’s a great draw and we’ll be using it and leading.
“You’ve got to use a draw like this and he did lead throughout and win at Gloucester Park a few months back. He can still do it.
“It’s his race to lose, really.”
Gath said Catch A Wave would go straight from this race into the $250,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup on October 18. It’s a race he finished a close second in two years ago.
Then it’s onto a new challenge, the rich NSW Carnival of Cups, to chase a slice of the $1 million bonus on offer.
The first leg is at Wagga on November 14 before Newcastle (December 5) and Bathurst (January 30).
“That’s the plan. The first three legs are on the biggest and best three tracks in the (five race) series,” Gath said.
“We’ll know after those first three legs if he’s a chance for the bonus and can then decide if we go to the others (Albury on February 13 and Penrith on March 20).”
The bonus is $1 million for any horse who can win all five legs, $500,000 for four wins and $250,000 for three wins.
Mighty stayer Swayzee snagged $500,000 last year for four wins and a second.
