Catch A Wave ended the longest winning drought of his career with a brilliant display in the Hygain Breeders Crown Championship for four-year-old entires and geldings.
Andy and Kate Gath’s brilliant pacer broke a sequence of five defeats at Melton on Saturday night when he found the front from gate one and was never threatened on his way to an 18.8m victory over rival Captain Ravishing.
“It was his race to lose, wasn’t it? It’s good to have him back in the winner’s list,” Kate said.
“He’s put some terrific runs on the board chasing them down and he probably loves to chase them down more than being out in front, but he was too good tonight.”
Catch A Wave won a Breeders Crown final as a two-year-old in 2021, but skipped the series last year.
Andy Gath said it was now time for Catch A Wave to head for a short break, with a return to racing likely in January. While he won’t actively be targeted at the big country cups through early 2024, the son of Captaintreacherous might figure in one as a lead-up to February’s A. G. Hunter Cup and March’s Miracle Mile.
Catch A Wave has now won 19 of 30 career starts for prizemoney earnings up over $1.25 million.
There were no worries for a fresh Fiamma, who speared off the arm from gate seven and led all the way to win the Nutrien Equine Breeders Crown Championship for four-year-old mares.
The daughter of Bettors Delight, who hadn’t raced since mid-September, never gave her rivals a chance in the $40,000 contest, dictating things from the front on her way to a big win over Terry French’s Interpretation and third-placed Younggiftedandblack.
Fiamma’s victory was one of eight for trainer Emma Stewart on Saturday night and helped driver Mark Pitt finish with a haul of six.
Tim O’Connor
