3 minute read

Star Victorian Catch A Wave completed a Group 1 double in the west on Friday night with a come-from-behind win in the Fremantle Cup at Gloucester Park.

Following on from his win in last week's Nullarbor, driver Kate Gath eased Catch A Wave back towards the tail from a wide barrier early while local Jumpingjackmac led the field in the $300,000 feature over 2936m.

Gath was happy to bide her time until the last lap when she eased three and then four wide before Catch A Wave made a fast dash to hit the front on the home turn.

Jumpingjackmac fought back hard but Catch A Wave toughed out the win with Pinny Tiger third.

It was the second time Andy Gath's five year-old had completed a Group 1 double on a seven-day back-up having also achieved the feat when winning the Chariots of Fire and Miracle Mile in Sydney last year.

Rakero Rebel staked her claim for next weeks' Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Mile with a fast-finishing victory in the G3 Robin Dundee stakes at Menangle on Saturday.

Driver Greg Sugars gave Rakero Rebel a quite passage three back on the pegs while the favoured pair of Eye Keep Smiling and Major Delight showed the way.

Eye Keep Smiling kicked strongly into the home straight but a gap on the pegs opened for Rakero Rebel and the Jess Tubb-trained mare shot through to win by 1.1m.

Both of those mares earned a place in next Saturday's Group 1 as did the next three home – Braeview Kelly, Im Presi Belle and Treachery.

The Menangle meeting also saw the heats of the NSW Oaks and unbeaten Victorian filly Very Pretty looks set to start a hot favourite in that race after romping to a 17.5m win her heat, her seventh win from as many starts.

Menangle specialist Lux Aeterna took her unbeaten record at the circuit to six when she took out the other heat.

At Goulburn on Sunday Seaton's Grima's progressive pacer Don Lou claimed some big scalps when he led throughout and smashed the track record to win the $60,000 Merino Cup.

Feature races coming up this week:

Bathurst Wednesday: Western Regional Championships heats

Gloucester Park Friday: G3 4YO & 5YO Championship; G3 WASBA Breeder Stakes

Newcastle Friday: Hunter Regional Championships heats

Menangle Saturday: G1 Queen Elizabeth II Mile, G1 NSW Oaks, G1 Macarthur Mile, G1 NSW Trotters Oaks, G3 Pink Bonnet