Catch A Wave out to steal Fremantle Cup riches under cover of darkness again at Gloucester Park on Friday eve

Eastern raider Catch A Wave will look to rewrite history by joining an illustrious honour roll and become a dual winner of Friday’s Group 1 $300,000 Retravision Fremantle Cup (2936m) at Gloucester Park. In 1850, two decades after Captain Charles Fremantle claimed the eponymous coastal land, Fremantle became a primary destination for convicts with many thieves among them. 175 years later, another Victorian pickpocket named Catch A Wave will return to the scene of one of his greatest heists where he smuggled WA’s riches back home in 2024. After settling at the tail on that occasion, the bay secured a three wide trail before unleashing a withering burst 550m from home. Sweeping to the front 300m out with a dazzling turn of foot, the gelding’s stamina lasted out to score by a neck. But from gate one, a new challenge awaits one of Australia’s champion pacers where he has the option to lead if trainer-driver combination Andy and Kate Gath desire. In his 53-start career, Catch A Wave has led 17 races and won 14 of them. His three defeats have been a runner-up performance to stablemate Yambukian in the 2023 Preux Chevalier (2240m), eighth to Encipher in the TAB Eureka (2400m) of that year, and another second to Triple Eight in the 2024 Captain Sandy (2240m). He has handed up once in those 53 starts, to Leap To Fame in the 2024 Hunter Cup (2760m), where he pulled too hard and dropped out beaten from the turn. Despite seemingly being stronger than ever, the widely held belief is that Catch A Wave’s high-speed is his best asset. A blinding last-to-first success in the Geelong Rocket (1609m) was proceeded by a walk in the Park at his opening WA run this year, zipping around Gloucester in a 54.6 second final 800m. In last week’s Nullarbor, the son of Captaintreacherous was left with a mountainous task after settling at the back and was unable to make any meaningful inroads. The bottom line is this: Catch A Wave will lead if he wants. But if he does want to take cover in a grueling 2936m test, who’s going to be the first there? The indestructible Minstrel must be made of granite, and Endurance is surely Mister Smartee’s middle name with both titans rebounding just seven days after a punishing battle in the Nullarbor. Minstrel, who led, was harried by Swayzee from the outset of that event and was gutsy to finish a close-up third behind Mister Smartee. Although on and off the bit due to the stern nature of the speed, Mister Smartee mounted an almighty sprint to power past the leading pair after parking on their backs to win the $1.25 million slot race. Whilst the speed map of that event was rather elementary, this one is all a bit woolly. Mister Smartee has drawn gate 10, behind Catch A Wave, while Minstrel is also on the back row but in gate 12, trailing Hoppys Way. There is a distinct likelihood that Mister Smartee’s reinsman Gary Hall Jr will be able to chicane his way off the fence given that Waverider (two) and Hoppys Way (three) are unlikely to rush forward. Moreover, Mighty Ronaldo (11) to his immediate outside may also be seeking a pegs run and is another variable potentially favouring Hall Jr to extricate. But Mighty Conqueror (four) may launch a bid and without a runner to his outside, Minstrel could latch onto his back to charge forward. Throw in another Hall Sr-trained runner in Prince Of Pleasure (five) and there are innumerable permutations possible in the infancy of the race. The Bond team have one more ace up their sleeve, too, with Gee Heza Sport (eight). The ex-Kiwi shot to the elite echelon of local pacers winning four-straight races in late 2024. However, his return run four weeks ago was uninspiring, and he entered The Nullarbor with knockout claims at best. He laughed in the face of any doubters with a robust, closing second placing to Mister Smartee after sitting behind him throughout and now has a patent potential advantage having drawn on the front line. Gee Heza Sport, with visiting reinsman Luke McCarthy again aboard, now enters the Cup with realistic claims and could be the first big gun to accost Catch A Wave. After the barrier draw, Catch A Wave was made a $2.05 TABtouch favourite ahead of Mister Smartee ($3.50), Minstrel ($5) and Gee Heza Sport ($5.50). The most visibly unlucky runner in last week’s event was Mighty Ronaldo ($14), who showed sparkle when sizzling up behind Mister Smartee over the concluding stages despite racing in limited room. The three-time Group 1 winner has reserved his finest hours for the Fremantle Cup, including victory in the 2023 edition when sprinting from the one-out, one-back position. In last place with a lap to travel in 2024, the son of Alta Christiano weaved clear over the final 400m and rocketed into a close-up fourth. Waverider ($41), the lone four-year-old in the line-up, performed with credit albeit without landing a blow when eighth in The Nullarbor. Oppositely, the end of Mighty Conqueror’s ($51) racing tenure beckons as the 10-year-old lines up for his third Fremantle Cup appearance. Unplaced in the 2020 and 2022 cups, the injury-embattled old-timer is currently racing soundly in each racing sense of the word. Lone mare Wonderful To Fly ($101) also likely approaches the end of her time on the track with the breeding season beckoning the six-year-old at the end of this year. The $830,000 earner placed in the Empress Stakes for the second time in her glittering career a fortnight ago but has been dealt the cruel blow of barrier nine. $91 shot Tricky Miki has gate six and chased home Parliamentarians Cup winner Prince Of Pleasure ($101) seven days ago, with the latter overcoming an injury-afflicted absence to win his first race in more than 18 months. Triple-figure odds outsiders Otis (barrier seven) and Hoppys Way (three) were arguably career-best in The Nullarbor notwithstanding their sixth and seventh-placed respective finishes. + Albany Cup winner Filthy Habits is a dominant $1.75 elect for Saturday’s $100,000 Rogan Josh Stakes (2100m) at Ascot. The bold front-runner, revered for his rigorous racing routine and ruthless running patterns, led the Cup field and steadily increased the arrogance of victory, coming clear a commanding four-and-three-quarter length winner. Iowa, who also likes to make the pace, has firmed to $3.30 after an improved run when stepping up to 1800m last start. + Friday’s Fremantle Cup meeting will be accompanied by greyhound racing’s Mandurah Derby (488m) in the Peel region where Iconic Jet is the $1.85 favourite. The well-traveled 16-time winner of just 24 starts has shaken off any rust, emerging triumphant in two recent Mandurah races over 400m and 488m, both in sharp time. Littermate Rippin’ Moses ($4) took his heat in a time three lengths slower and gives trainer Shayne Williams a double chance at a collect. Victorian visitor Giacomo ($5.50), although an inferior time to both, will be improved for the Mandurah hit-out and rounds out runners at single-digit prices.