The road map for The Captain

Branxholme harness racing trainer Alister Black has some ambitious plans for talented pacer Captain Tom (Captaintreacherous) providing he performs well at his next two starts.

After impressively winning on debut at Winton over a mile in 1-53.9 the gelding then ran fourth at Invercargill but Black has made some gear changes since.

“I think you’ll see a far better product this week. I’ve gone with the Murphy Blind on the near side and the Kant See Back Blind on the inside. As long as he doesn’t take fright at the big television screen at Omakau I think he’ll go well. Bob Butt’s horse (Incredible Miki) is pretty nice but everything going to plan I think he should be winning it,” Black said.

Assuming he makes it safely through Monday’s race Black’s plan is to look at taking Captain Tom north.

“At this stage we’re looking at the Alabar Classic (3^rd March) and Northern Derby (24^th March) in Auckland before he comes home for the Supremacy (23^rd April). So he’s lining up on Monday in the Supremacy heat. Then there’s another heat at Northern Southland on 19^th January. He’d have to win both to warrant going to Auckland.”

The Alabar Classic is a $50,000 Group Two race whilst the Northern Derby is worth $150,000 and is a Group One event.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink