Captain Tom heads home

After an out of character performance on Friday night (Feb. 10) Southland harness racing pacer Captain Tom (Captaintreacherous) is heading home.

“I suspect he’s picked up a bug. The part that annoyed me the most was that I did a blood test on him four days before he left and it was absolutely perfect,” Branxholme trainer Alister Black said.

Black has consequently pulled the pin on a two race campaign in Auckland including the Group Two Alabar Classic on  March 3rd and the Group One Great Northern Derby three weeks later.

“It’s pretty gut wrenching but sometimes it can be a blessing in disguise.”

Black says he doesn’t know how bad the virus is.

“I haven’t done any tests yet because he only gets home tomorrow.”

The plan at this stage is to give the three year old two weeks off.

“We may give him a lead up race before the Sires Stakes Heat of the 8th April.”

Black says he’s thinking he may need to stay a bit closer to the gelding when he goes on road trips.

“I may just have to take him on my own the day before the races and bring him home the day after.”

The Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes on 23rd April is still Captain Tom’s long term ‘local’ target.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink