Captains Mistress is all speed and all class

New Zealand bred filly Captains Mistress (Captaintreacherous) looks set to create a big impression on the feature mares races after her decisive all the way harness racing win in the Bert Alley New Years Gift Final at Menangle on Saturday evening.

Run in heavy rain, Captains Mistress showed blistering early speed to take up the running with stable mate Still Rollin sitting behind the leader with the other stable mate Demon Blue caught racing outside the leader.

However as she showed last week with her effortless heat win, Captains Mistress was not fazed with the strong rains and she warmed to the task moving well clear of her rivals on the final bend. In the end it was a procession with Captains Mistress in another league of her own as she strolled to win over Still Rollin by over 18 metres with Demon Blue boxing on for third.

It was a training triumph for Jason Grimson as he prepared the first three place getters who incidentally had all won their heats last week. Despite the inclement conditions Captains Mistress ran the mile in 1.52.9.

CAPTAINS MISTRESS 17 JAN REPLAY

Australians had a preview of Captains Mistress when she toured Queensland in the middle of 2025. On that trip she won the Redcliffe Oaks and the Rising Sun Consolation and many considered she should have been selected for the Rising Sun itself. She’s only just joined Jason Grimson’s stables for the two unbeaten appearances.

She has to be a serious contender for the Group 1 $200,000 Chariots of Fire for four year olds to be held at Menangle on 7 March. But in addition she will also be a strong challenger for the forthcoming mares classics where she would most likely clash with the nation’s leading mare Eye Keep Smiling.

The win completed a treble for driver Cameron Hart who apart from winning with Swayzee landed Hugo Maguire (Sweet Lou) an all the way win for trainer Jarrod Allchin.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink