Catch A Wave has emerged as the big winner from this afternoon’s Retravision-Fremantle Cup (2936m), drawing the coveted barrier one.
The defending champion is set to get a golden opportunity to atone for the disappointment of an unplaced performance in last week’s TABtouch-Nullarbor (2536m) from the favourable draw.
The Andy Gath-trained pacer led and beat subsequent Nullarbor winner Mister Smartee in the Free-For-All a week earlier in 1:55.3.
Aiding Catch A Wave’s prospects of scoring back-to-back wins in the $300,000 event is Nullarbor placegetters Gee Heza Sport, Mister Smartee and Minstrel drawing barrier eight, 10 and 12 respectively.
Minstrel’s co-trainer Greg Bond said he expected the tough eight-year-old to end up outside Catch A Wave at some stage and conceded the Victorian would be hard to beat.
As well as Gee Heza Sport and Minstrel, Greg and Skye Bond also have 2020 WA Pacing Cup winner Mighty Conqueror engaged from barrier four.
Trainer Gary Hall Snr also has multiple representatives in the event, with last week’s Parliamentarians Cup winner Prince Of Pleasure to line up from barrier five.
Justin Prentice has 2023 Fremantle Cup winner Mighty Ronaldo engaged again in this year’s event from barrier 11, as well as Tricky Miki from barrier six.
Waverider (barrier two), Hoppys Way (three), Otis (seven) and Wonderful To Fly are the other runners engaged in the Group 1 event.
Tim Walker
Image - Pacepix