Record race run

By John Dunne (HRV)

Curly James made it a double for driver David Moran at Melton last Saturday night.

Working to the front early in the race, he was kept company by the $1.33 favourite Catch A Wave for the final 1600 metres of the race.

Despite pulling hard mid race, Catch A Wave put his head in front around the home turn after a blistering 26.8 back straight quarter however, Curly James ($6) fought back tenaciously in the home straight to score by three metres from La Captain in a race record mile rate of 1:54.0.

Moran admitted he wasn’t sure of the outcome when the two leaders upped the tempo in the back straight.

“I didn’t think we had it won too far out, Catch A Wave is a great horse and we were lucky enough to get a pretty cheap lead time and the first quarter was reasonably easy for this class,” he said.

“Half way up the straight we were probably travelling as good as each other and I had the advantage of the inside running, he kept poking his head out and did well.”