Catch A Wave will make his first public appearance of 2024 when he steps out at Monday’s Melton trials.

Trainer Andy Gath is pleased with his superstar pacer, who is set to tackle some of the big majors in Victoria and New South Wales throughout the year. 

The first of those is likely to be the A.G Hunter Cup on February 3 before attention turns to defending the Miracle Mile crown he won in March last season. 

After he trials on Monday night, Gath will then decide whether another hit-out is needed or the five-year-old can head straight to the races. 

A first-up run in a heat of the Mercury80 series shapes as an option on January 19, with the Casey Classic on January 27 also on the table before the Hunter Cup. 

Gath said it was unlikely there would be any targets outside of Victoria and New South Wales in 2024, ruling out a shot at slot races in New Zealand or Western Australia. 

Catch A Wave must be one of the contenders for the 2023 Victorian Horse of the Year award after a season that included wins in the Chariots of Fire and Miracle Mile, and a runner-up placing in the Victoria Cup. 

His last start was a victory in the Breeders Crown Championship at Melton on November 18 which took his career record to 19 wins from 30 starts for prizemoney earnings of $1,262,100.