Captains Knock joins the million dollar club

Star pacer Captains Knock (Captaintreacherous) took his harness racing stake earnings to over $1 million when he led all the way in the Listed $60,000 TAB Goldrush Cup at Bathurst on Friday evening.

The event was the third leg of the New South Wales Carnival of Cups with previous events run at Wagga and Newcastle. And all eyes were on Captains Knock who was in line to take out the $250,000 bonus as he had won both previous events.

Such was his presence that it scared off many of his potential rivals but the veteran Max Delight was entered by his trainer David Aiken which at least ensured a worthy race.

Punters snapped up the very short odds on off for Captains Knock with Max Delight considered the only possible danger.

CAPTAINS KNOCK 30 JAN REPLAY

Brad Hewitt on Captains Knock was able to work to the lead without any trouble while Will Rixon eased Max Delight back to the rear. Kanena Provlima took the trail behind the leader but Hewitt was allowed to rate Captains Knock to a comfortable pace in the lead. Rixon decided to go up and put some pressure with two laps left to travel and he had no option but to race outsider Captains Knock.

Hewitt wasn’t going to go too hard over the testing 2790 metre distance. But it was obvious that a long way from home that it would be a battle between Captains Knock and Max Delight.

After a slow first lap, Captains Knock started to apply the pressure running his first two quarters in 28.5 and 28 seconds which proved a bit too much for his rivals. Max Delight continued to fight on but Captains Knock had established a decisive lead on straightening. Max Delight switched to the inside but was safely held by just under seven metres with Kanena Provlima a further twelve metres away in third. Captains Knock ran 1.56.4 outside of Swayzee’s track record of 1.54.9.

Trainer driver Brad Hewitt was relieved following the success.

He’s been a great horse. It was a bit of a hiccup last start. He’s had to get over a few issues and even a few this week. To the horse’s credit he’s tough and he gets the job done. Last start he definitely wasn’t his best. Last start it was probably my fault I scratched him from Goulburn because he wasn’t right. Started him a week later as I thought I had him back to where I needed to. He was still clearly feeling the effects of being a bit off.

Since then I couldn’t have been happier with his work. He’s been working like he was before Wagga and Newcastle. I knew I had him a good place again. It’s just a relief to get that one out of the road.

I would have been happier rolling along and keep everyone happy but given just the six horse field I was a bit worried about Max Delight if I was to go a bit too hard and he chimed along at the right time then it would have made it hard. I was happy to flush him out early. From there it was a really solid run race. And I was happy having him (Max Delight) on my outside and he was just too good.

He’s such a good gaited little horse and he’s not overbig and that helps him.

The smaller track (Albury) makes it tough. We’ve knocked this one out of the way. Anything else is a bonus.

He had a hoof problem this week, to his credit, he comes out and gets the job done.

Captains Knock is raced by the popular Triple Play Syndicate and through virtue of his win took his record to 26 wins and 20 placings from 65 starts and an impressive $1,044,026.

Captains Knock is most likely to take his place in the fourth leg of the New South Wales Country Cups at Albury on Friday 13 February and he has the chance to earn yet another $250,000 bonus. At this stage most of the big guns will be at the AG Hunter Cup the next night at Melton so he’s likely to face another similar field to the one he met at Bathurst.

And if wins the Renshaw Cup at Penrith on 20 March then he will earn another $500,000 bonus although he’s likely to face a stronger field there.

The Goldrush Cup capped off a great night for the Bathurst club that attracted a huge crowd and many entertainment features for club patrons. The next big event for Bathurst will be their renowned Gold Crown carnival in March.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink