Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Champion driver Kate Gath notched a memorable milestone in a glittering career in the sulky when she drove $78.80 outsider Navy Street to an upset victory in the $19,000 JP Pacing Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
It was her first winner at her initial appearance and first drive at Gloucester Park to give her a winner in every Australian State.
The 40-year-old Gath was anxious to gain experience on the Perth track before handling the brilliant pacer Catch A Wave in the $1,250,000 Nullarbor slot race next Friday night, and she was grateful to gain the drive behind the WA-bred five-year-old Navy Street from her aunty Karen Thompson.
Gath’s father Peter Thompson, a leading trainer in South Australia for many years and currently working for the Victorian stables of leading trainer Andy Gath and his wife Kate, is a brother of Karen Thompson’s husband David.
Navy Street, whose previous five starts had been in stands and his previous six wins had been in stands, was given little hope from out wide at barrier No. 8 on the front line in the 2130m mobile event.
“This wasn’t a good draw, and the plan was to go back at the start and take short cuts,” said the diminutive Kate Gath. “But the horse had other ideas, and he felt good in the score-up, and he ran the gate by himself.
“So, I looked across and thought I might as well take the opportunity of leading. After that, I was happy to take the sit behind October Reign (the $3.60 second favourite) who dashed to the front 400m after the start.
“I thought that was the best option, even though we didn’t have to relinquish the lead, and he didn’t need much time to get clear. He was bolting (approaching the home turn), and he picked them up quickly.”
Lusaka, the $2.25 favourite, who raced without cover for most of the race, looked the winner when Deni Roberts sent him to the front 100m from the post. But Navy Street flew home to get up in the final stride to beaty Lusaka by a half-head, with October Reign a wilting third. The final quarters were run in 28.7sec. and 28.8sec.
Mrs Thompson, who will celebrate a milestone birthday in the near future, has had Navy Street in her Byford stables for only a couple of weeks.
She said that she had been looking for a pacer to replace her recently retired iron horse Whoswhointhezoo, a massive gelding she bred, owned and trained, who had 181 starts for eleven wins and 47 starts for stakes of $179,696.
“I loved coming to the trots on Friday nights with Whosewhointhezoo, who didn’t win very often but earned a good amount of money,” said Mrs Thompson. “I knew that Navy Street was for sale, and I have a birthday coming up soon, so I decided to buy him, and I got him for $11,000.”
Navy Street has now earned $11,534 from his fifth placing and one win from two starts for his new owner. “I wanted a lovely horse I could come to Gloucester Park with, and Navy Street is a lovely horse,” she said.
Navy Street is by American stallion Hes Watching and is the fourth foal out of the unraced Life Sign mare Life Of Byrne. He is related to several top-class WA pacers, including Remit, Whitbys Miss Penny, Ace Of Whitby, Whitby Timer, Whitby Heritage, Whitby Merit, Montana Anna and Aikido Whitby. Navy Street has earned $86,257 from eleven wins and ten placings from 45 starts.