Racing: Gath checks on progress of rival

Caribbean Blaster and Kate Gath enjoy a workout at Cran Dalgety's property yesterday. Photo / Otago Daily Times

Andy Gath has a pretty good view of Christen Me.

In fact, his pride-and-joy Caribbean Blaster and Christen Me were no further than 10m apart yesterday at Cran Dalgety's stables at West Melton as they both went through their final paces for tomorrow's New Zealand Trotting Cup.

Gath and his wife, Kate, who will drive Caribbean Blaster in the group one feature, have stabled the son of Bettor's Delight at Dalgety's establishment since they arrived in New Zealand last week and gave him some galloping fast work yesterday.

Gath has never worked a horse harder than he works Caribbean Blaster, but he said the 6-year-old thrives on lap after lap of the track at home in Victoria or on tour in New Zealand.

The third favourite for the 3200m classic finished ninth in last year's edition after starting slowly, but Gath always wanted to come back - even after the camp had a setback when the "Blaster" was struck down with a virus in early October.

"We just had to change the game plan once he got that virus and the lead-up races sort of changed, but he's well and healthy for the two-mile race," Gath said yesterday.

Caribbean Blaster had a longer trip to Canterbury than his rival in the cup, heading from Melbourne to Sydney for a flight last weekend, and getting a run in at Menangle on November 2, finishing third, before he flew out to New Zealand the next day.

Gath was not expecting the lead-up race at Menangle to be run in a breakneck 1:49.4 for the mile, and he was a little worried as he saw the pace poured on early.

"We were a little bit concerned while we were watching that they were going a little hard and he went into it a little underdone, but he's recovered really good from it, and he handled the trip over well."

Caribbean Blaster finished second behind Christen Me in the Cup trial on Wednesday, and Gath feels both he and the horse are happier this year ahead of tomorrow.

"He seems a lot sharper now with a few extra days to settle in," he said.

"We've come over a little earlier this time and done things a little bit different - it'll all show on Tuesday if he can begin a little bit better.

"If the last quarter is really quick, and he's back in the field, he's not going to win.

"It's a hard race to win, but we'd just like him to go his best. We'll go home a lot happier if he shows everyone what he can actually do."