The $400,000 Renwick Farms Dominion Trot, New Zealand’s premier trotting race, awaits Callmethebreeze after the Andy Gath trained six-year-old scored a dominant win in the Kilmore Trotters Cup.
Having his first standing start, Callmethebreeze stepped cleanly off the 30 metre backmark before sitting parked outside Arcee Phoenix while the second elect Keayang Chucky settled at the rear of the field.
Despite facing the breeze over the 3150 metre staying trip, Callmethebreeze ($1.85 fav) surged to the lead around the home turn before clearing out from his rivals to score by 10 metres from One Over All.
The Haras Des Trotteurs owned Callmethebreeze is unbeaten in three starts since joining Gath's stable six weeks ago.
Gath was delighted with the way Callmethebreeze handled the standing start tape at his first attempt under race conditions.
"You would have thought that it was his 100th standing start," Gath said.
"Kate said he relaxed really well and he was strong on the line," he said.
Gath said Callmethebreeze displayed his class in dispatching his rivals with consummate ease.
"He put some nice trotters away tonight," he said.
"Arcee Phoenix was the last horse to beat Just Believe," he said.
Callmethebreeze has increased his ringcraft in recent weeks.
"Pat (Driscoll) told me it was best to keep him for short races and he wasn't really a death seat horse and he couldn't stay in France," he said.
"After he won sitting in the death at his past two starts Pat told me to put a nomination in for the New Zealand race."
The scene is now set for a salivating clash between Just Believe and Callmethebreeze in the Group 1 Aldebaran Park Bill Collins Trotters Sprint on Victoria Cup night at Melton.
"Just Believe is a champion but we don't fear him," he said.