Early move pays off for the Captain

A calculated early race gamble by Brad Hewitt paid off when Captains Knock (Captaintreacherous) railed through to take out the  Les Chant Free For All at Menangle. 

Sent out a $2.80 harness racing favorite, Captains Knock held the early lead from its pole position however Hewitt opted to take a trail on the back of noted front runner Whereyabinboppin inside the first 100 metres of the race. 

Hewitt was quick to seize the opportunity of snaring an inside run when the leader rolled away from the pegs half way down the home straight. 

Captains Knock charged through along the inside to score running away by five metres from Anything Goes and Star Major. 

Hewitt said he was mindful of a busy schedule ahead when surrendering the lead. 

CAPTAINS KNOCK REPLAY

“He has got two runs in the next two weeks in the NSW Breeders Challenge and it was his first run for five weeks, so I didn’t want to give him a gut buster tonight,” Hewitt said. 

Hewitt admitted he had concerns in the home straight. 

“It was a bit of a worry there for a while when the leader started to weaken but luckily he rolled off and we were able to get through,” he said. 

Hewitt said the son of Captaintreacherous is a likely starter in next month’s Inter Dominion series to be held at Menangle. 

“He is nominated and is inside the top 30 horses but we will wait and see how he pulls up from the Breeders Challenge,” he said. 

“He has been up for a while but he is bucking his brand off at the moment and he is a fat doing fella so I don’t really want to give him a long spell.” 

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink