Big V blitz in NSW

By Michael Howard (HRV)

Victoria’s assault on the $1 million Garrards Miracle Mile swelled to five with Emma Stewart’s pair Honolua Bay and Hurricane Harley securing starts alongside stablemates Mach Dan and Captain Ravishing.

Last Saturday night at Menangle (NSW) Expensive Ego finished second in the Allied Express Sprint to a brilliant Honolua Bay to also clinch a start, while Spirit Of St Louis won the Schweppes Sprint ahead of second-placed Hurricane Harley to earn their tickets.

Braeview Kelly won a wildcard after scoring in the Pryde’s EasiFeed Queen Elizabeth II Mile, while the other wildcard placing went to Stewart’s exciting four-year-old Captain Ravishing, who is set for a rematch with Andy Gath’s Chariots Of Fire winner Catch A Wave.

The results set the stage for a thrilling Grand Circuit final this Saturday.

Gath joined TrotsVision coverage to speak to Catch A Wave’s chances, with the four-year-old confirming his freakish talent in last Saturday’s outstanding win over Captain Ravishing that got tongues wagging.

“We’ve raced him once and beat him once, that doesn’t mean we’ll beat him again, hopefully we’ll have plenty of clashes going forward,” Gath said.

“(Starting in a Miracle Mile is) probably something I never thought about. It’s such an iconic race and such an honour to have a runner in it.

“I’ve only ever had one horse in it – Hearts Legend – and that was probably 20-odd years ago. It shows how hard it is to get into.

“To have a horse who actually has a live chance of winning, which I think he has, is pretty amazing. It all comes to barrier draw, but he’s definitely got a live chance.”