Sand Wave returns in Gore Cup

Nathan Williamson is expecting to see more from Sand Wave than he has been producing on the trials track recently in his return to racing in the Gore Cup.

The Group One placegetter returns to racing after enjoying a decent break following his last start in April. Williamson has given the four-year-old three workouts ahead of his return in Wednesday’s feature.

Though Sand Wave was beaten comfortably in the latest of those, Williamson is expecting the horse to be a little more enthusiastic in the Gore Cup.

“He's just been probably okay by his standards at the workouts, but in saying that he's not really a horse that is going to set the trial tracks alight,” the trainer-driver said.

“He's very much one of those horses that you really have to ask him for his ultimate effort.”

“So I was quite pleased with him in his latest trial.”

“He trialled pretty good, probably One Change got past him quite good.”

“But I was pleased with his work on the line and after the line, and he will sharpen from it.”

“So he's in a good space.”

Sand Wave starts from the 30m back-mark at Gore, giving his key rivals Deny Everything and Captain Tom a 20m head-start in the process.

Williamson knows his pacer is facing a tough handicap, but it is certainly not the end of Sand Wave’s winning chances.

“30m won’t be easy, but he will certainly be running on.”

“I think he should build over summer and certainly there should be a race with his name on it over summer.”

While Sand Wave has had plenty of trials to ready him for his return to racing, Captain Tom has been restricted to track work at home base ahead of the Gore Cup.

The pacer hasn’t been sighted publicly since his taking on classy three-year-olds in October.

Captain Tom will be having his first standing start for trainer Alister Black and driver Brad Williamson on Wednesday.