A winning return from confirmed TAB Eureka runner Captain Knocks saw the four-year-old move up one spot in the Power Rankings for the world’s richest harness racing race.
Will Rixon took the reins for trainer Brad Hewitt as Captains Knock enjoyed a gun run in the one-one trail and comfortably scored at his first run for three months in a 1min51.6sec mile.
It was enough for him to move into the sixth spot on the TAB Eureka Power Rankings, pushing last year’s Victoria Derby winner Petracca, who hasn’t been seen this year but is close to a return, down from sixth to seventh.
Captains Knock was the second confirmed runner for the TAB Eureka, being snapped up early by Cordina Racing. He raced in their colours last Saturday night.
Looking ahead, there will be plenty of interest in The Lost Storm if he lines up as expected in Saturday night’s Italian Cup at Melton.
The multiple Group 1 winner left confused when he won first-up but made hard work of it in the Bold David free-for-all at Melton on May 25.
It was only his second run since last October and his first for 10 weeks, but he didn’t dash away from his rivals as many expected.
He has since slipped from four to five on the TAB Eureka Power Rankings but can make a statement against older rivals in what should be a solid field this week.
Power Rankings top seed Frankie Ferocious did everything expected in his first trial back, winning easily in fair time at the Menangle trials last Wednesday. Expect him to be asked for a lot more when he trials again this Wednesday.
1. FRANKIE FEROCIOUS (Captaintreacherous) (last week 1)
2. NEVER ENDING (Sweet Lou) (2)
3. EXTREME SEA (Well Said) (3)
4. FOR REAL LIFE (For A Reason) (5)
5. THE LOST STORM (Captaintreacherous) (4)
6. CAPTAINS KNOCK (Captaintreacherous) (last week 7)
7. PETRACCA (Captaintreacherous) (last week 6)
8. HIGH ABOVE (Captaintreacherous) (8)
9. DOUGS PLATTER (Betterthancheddar) (9)
10. CAPTAIN HAMMERHEAD (Captaintreacherous) (10)
by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia