Racing: His Cup runneth over

MELBOURNE - Andy Gath was too gracious to say it but you could see it in his eyes: The critics were wrong.

Gath produced the biggest win of his star-studded training career when About To Rock's manners landed him the A$500,000 Hunter Cup at Moonee Valley last night.

The injury-plagued pacer made the most of the perfect trail to claw his way up the passing lane and hold out Tromos and No Blue Manna in what was a horror race for punters as the favoured backmarkers were run off their feet.

For Gath the win wasn't just about money but respect after he has been widely panned in the last year.

Gath used to train on the famed Great Western property used by leading trainer Peter Manning, whose daughter Kerryn was married to Gath.

The couple separated 18 months ago and many of Gath's critics suggested he would struggle without her driving and training expertise as well as the unique Great Western training environment.

He lost dozens of horses and started the summer in danger of becoming harness racing's forgotten man.

But About To Rock has changed all that.

The horse who races with screws in his legs is rated a day-to-day proposition but Gath believed he was worth persevering with.

"I know a lot of people started to say I wouldn't be able to go on with the job as a trainer but it is not about what they think," he said.

"I could snap back at them but you can't listen to people who rubbish you so I am going to ignore them and enjoy this for what it is.

"I just feel satisfied for myself and Kate."

Kate is Gath's new partner Kate Thompson, who, in driving About To Rock, may have created her own place in harness racing history.

It is almost certain no woman has driven a richer winner in harness racing anywhere in the world, capping a remarkable day for the ladies after Michelle Wallis trained Delft to win the Interdom Trotting Final.

It was the perfect drive from the tiny Thompson as she worked About To Rock to the lead before taking the trail behind Dinki Di, which gave her the all-important passing lane.

While the win was sweet, there was the added bonus of Gath having backed the horse at the start of his campaign at odds of 200-1.

"That makes it even better but winning is more important than any money," said Gath.

But Gath was not getting carried away, realising that About To Rock may not even race again.

"His legs are that bad that any race could be his last."

That could even keep About To Rock out of the mega-rich Interdominions which start in Tasmania in a month.

The betting for that series will have been thrown into mayhem by last night's result as so many of the favourites raced below their best.

Among them was Kiwi favourite Howard Bromac, who dropped out after sitting parked from the mile.

The sectionals of the race meant he couldn't win regardless but he still would have won few fans.

Best of the Kiwis was Winforu, who looked a winning chance when he pulled wide at the top of the straight but was outfinished by the horses inside him.

His performance was still promising from an Interdominion point of view but there was little to get excited about in the run of the other New Zealand rep, Bobs Blue Boy.