Miracle Mile winner's immediate racing future in doubt

By Adam Hamilton

The immediate racing future of Miracle Mile winner Catch A Wave is in limbo.

The superstar five-year-old pulled-up significantly lame after a close second in last night’s Geelong Rocket.

“He pulled up four out of five lame and was treated,” trainer Andy Gath said. “By the time we got him home we he was comfortable and seemed much better.

“It’s a positive sign, but we’ll have him fully checked out tomorrow and know a lot more.”

Catch A Wave, who won the Chariots Of Fire and Miracle Mile double a year ago, was preparing for a title defence at Menangle on March 9.

Last night’s Geelong run was to sharpen the five-year-old up for one of the two qualifying sprints at Menangle next Saturday night.

Gath’s wife and Catch A Wave’s driver Kate Gath feared something wasn’t right in the early stages of last night’s race.

“He didn’t feel right on the first bend,” she said. “I was nursing him after that and then when we got to the turn into the home straight, I had to just hold him together.

“After the race he wasn’t good. He was four out of five lame.”

Andy Gath said he was somewhat optimistic after getting Catch A Wave home.

“There’s obviously an issue, but to see him at home now gives us hope it’s not as bad as we feared,” he said.

“Sure, he’s been medicated, but if it’s something really bad they normally can’t put their foot on the ground, but he’s a lot better than that.

“The vet will go right over him tomorrow and we will know a lot more.”

The Geelong Rocket was won by dual Newcastle Mile winner Mach Dan, who led and dictated in a cost 1min56.4sec mile.

Despite Catch A Wave’s issues, he sat parked and kept finding to get within a metre in second spot at the finish.

In contrast, Leap To Fame booked his Miracle Mile berth with a runaway $100,000 Group 1 Newcastle Mile win last night.

The Inter Dominion and Hunter Cup hero worked forward to take the lead early at Newcastle and never looked in doubt.

He cruised to a 6.1m win in a 1min51.9sec mile and confirmed his pre-post favouritism for the Miracle Mile.