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Captains Knock (Captaintreacherous) who has just returned from an Inter Dominion campaign scored a well deserved win over the more fancied duo of Kingman and Bay Of Biscay in the Kevin Newman Free For All at Menangle Park on Saturday evening.
Captains Knock had performed admirably in the Inter Dominion series being placed in the two heats before finishing seventh in the Final.
CAPTAINS KNOCK AUG 1 REPLAY
Last night there were several different leaders in a furious early pace and Brad Hewitt after finding the lead with Captains Knock elected to take a sit behind favourite Kingman.
In the meantime Bay Of Biscay edged up to race outside the leader.
Kingman had a relatively easy run in the lead but then driver Luke McCarthy stepped on the gas in the third quarter in a quick 27.5 seconds. At this stage Kingman appeared to be holding Bay Of Biscay who couldn’t pick up the leader. However Captains Knock was just waiting for the right moment and he came with a well timed sprint to run away a clear winner over Kingman who fought on for second while Bay Of Biscay was a further five metres away in third.
Captains Knock returned 1.53.9 for the 2300 metres.
Raced by the Triple Play Syndicate and bred by John Rutter, Captains Knock has now passed the $600,000 stake level with 19 wins and 16 placings from 53 appearances to date.
Mrs Beryl Newman and other representatives of the Newman family were on track to make the presentation to Brad Hewitt.
Bay of Biscay is still likely to be favourite for the $2.1 million Eureka at Menangle on 6 September. He stuck to his task but never looked like picking up the leaders in the home straight. Much will depend on how far back he could get if the three year olds are drawn on his inside and show enough early speed to keep him out.
However his stablemate War Dan Buddy (Art Major) gave a brilliant all the way display in winning the opening event at Menangle and running 1.50.5 for the mile and in doing so enhanced his credentials for the Eureka. A top juvenile, War Dan Buddy is not that far behind Bay Of Biscay and on his slashing win would have to be seriously considered as a strong Eureka contender.
By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink
