One of Gath’s great skills has been his homework in placing horses, which has driven a superb career winning strike rate of almost 25 per cent. A staggering 40.4 per cent of his starters have finished top-two. 

While Gath has always enjoyed training trotters, it has been the past five years where he has become the “Trotting King” of Australia, sparked by the likes of Glenferrie Typhoon and Tornado Valley and now McLovin, Majestuoso and so many others. 

“I’ve trained some wonderful pacers, but the only two horses I’ve trained I call champions are both trotter – La Coocaracha and now Tornado Valley,” Gath said. “They are so different. La Coocaracha was just so brilliant and injury cut her career short while Tornado Valley has done it all and been right at the top for three years.” 

Of the best pacers Gath has trained, Victoria Cup and Chariots Of Fire winner Caribbean Blaster and Hunter Cup hero About To Rock standout. But you can throw in the likes of Blatant Lie, Emmas Only, Renaissance Man, True Cam, Hearts Legend and Vicbred 4YO winner Pacifico Dream. 

Gath averages 40 horses in work at his Long Forest stable, which has an 800m tree-lined fast-work track, a 700m heavy sand jog track. 

“Our main track has a relatively heavy surface compared to others, but we think it’s kinder on the horse and suits our training. It’s slightly undulating with a soft sand surface and part of it runs through the edge of the forest,” Gath said. 

“We love it where we are. It’s so sheltered and peaceful and there’s half a dozen tracks within an hour of us. With so many metro class horses, it’s great to have Melton 12 minutes away.” 

Gath said he and Kate’s skills compliment each other, which is a key to their success.  

“Kate’s a huge part of what we do, a key to it all. With Kate driving all the horses in training and at the races, I focus on planning their training, seeing how a come through the training and races and try to place them as well possible when they do race,” he said. 

“Sometimes we have very different ideas about certain horses and that’s a great thing. We respect each other’s ideas. 

“I think I’m a better trainer watching our horses work and assessing them after, with Kate’s feedback, rather than driving them myself.” 

“Then I got offered a job working for Andy (Gath) and Kerryn (Manning) at Great Western in 2003. I was bit reluctant to leave Adelaide at first because I liked my job and loved living with friends in Brighton (near Glenelg), but I always remember Dad (Peter) saying he regretted not taking an opportunity he did when he was younger, so I made the move. My boss did say I could have my job back if it didn’t work out at Great Western.” 

Kate teamed up Andy Gath in 2006, married in 2008 and the rest is one of Australian harness racing’s great success stories – both from a training perspective and Kate’s driving. 

Not only is Kate a key part of the training operation, she seems to get more successful as every year passes as a driver. She topped 100 wins for the first time with 110 wins in season 2014/15 in Victoria alone and smashed her “PB” with 201 wins last season. 

Kate also became the just the second female after Kerryn Manning to win the Victorian Metropolitan Drivers’ Premiership last season. Her drives banked a thumping $2,564,768. 

For so long primarily focused on driving stable horses for herself and Andy, Gath’s success and demand for her services grown significantly and includes a key role with the powerhouse Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin stable. 

Gath’s biggest wins include: 2018 Inter Dominion Trotting Final (Tornado Valley), 2006 Hunter Cup (About To Rock), 2020 & 2021 Great Southern Stars (Tornado Valley), 2012 Victoria Cup (Caribbean Blaster), 2012 Chariots Of Fire (Caribbean Blaster), 2020 Vicbred 2YO final (Tough Tilly). 

“I’ve been lucky to drive so amazing horses, some of my favourites would be About To Rock, who got the ball rolling for me, Renaissance Man who had the most speed of any horse I’ve driven until Ride High, Tornado Valley for all the obvious reasons and teaming-up with Tough Tilly and all she represents has been so very special,” Gath said. 

“Getting the call-up to drive Ride High last year as well. So unexpected and a real privilege. I’ve never driven a horse who’s giving me the feel he did.” 

Gath also loves the training side of things and admits to still regularly being surprised, even impressed, with the quirky and unconventional things Andy will try to successfully turn horses around. 

“Even after 15 years together, Andy will still come out with things which will make me shake my head, but he’s right more often than not. I remember being amazed when he ran Caribbean Blaster on a Friday before he won the Breeders Crown final 48 hours later,” she said. 

“More recently, when Tornado Valley won the Great Southern Star heat and final on the same night, Andy insisted he be fast-worked three times in that week leading-up to it – Monday, Wednesday and Friday.”