Draw helps Captains Knock in Breeders Challenge

Most of the fancied runners fared well in barrier draws for the six New South Wales Breeders Challenge finals to be run on a mammoth afternoon of harness racing at Tabcorp Menangle this Sunday.

Goulburn trainer-driver Brad Hewitt was one that gave a sigh of relief after learning his star three-year-old colt Captains Knock (Captaintreacherous) had come up with barrier one in what appears to be the clash of the day between three promising colts.

Captains Knock is the returning champion having taken out the two-year-old edition of the Breeders Challenge last season and after qualifying fastest when winning his semi-final last Saturday night and coming up with a plumb draw, is again considered the one to beat this year.

“We were just hoping for a good draw, luckily enough he has snared gate one,” said Hewitt.

“No doubt we will cop some pressure at some stage throughout the race with our two main dangers Better Be The Best and Oliver Dan drawn just outside of us.

“But our bloke relishes the style of racing over the mile at Menangle and after contesting the Victorian Derby he has the race fitness needed for a Group 1.

“I cannot have done any more to prepare him for this.”

Captains Knock is owned by the Triple Play Syndicate that is made up of a group of Hewitt’s best supporters, headed up by recently-retired Canberra Raiders rugby league star Jarrod Croker.

The group will head for Menangle on Sunday to cheer home a colt that has already won nine races and earned connections almost $200,000 in stakes.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Michael Dumesny, for HRNSW