Captain Crunch gets first NZ winner

Alabar stallion Captain Crunch (Captaintreacherous) sired his first New Zealand winner at the Wairio harness racing meeting at Winton today.

The Bob Butt trained Ukraine proved too strong for Music Mistress in the $15,000 Diamond Creek Carat Two Year Old Mobile Pace, winning by three quarters of a length.

The race was also a windfall for both the colt’s breeder and owner.

Norwegian Wood Breeding Limited as the breeder gets $4,000, while owner Don Bates gets an additional $8,000 on top of the of $8,250 stake earned by Ukraine.

The bonusing is part of a new initiative by HRNZ and Entain in which two year olds who record their first win against their own age group recieve a $12,000 reward which is split between their breeder and owner.

Captain Crunch has three two year old qualifiers in this country and Ukraine has the honour of being his first winner.

Alabar Stud has three by Captain Crunch in the NZB Standardbred Sales in Auckland including a three quarter brother to unbeaten filly Millwood Nike (Lot 105), so the timing for stallion and vendor is perfect.

Captain Crunch was named 2018 US Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year and he returned as a three year old to win the North America Cup. He was the leading US first season sire last year.

Bruce Stewart

Alabar stallion Captain Crunch (Captaintreacherous) sired his first New Zealand winner at the Wairio harness racing meeting at Winton today.

The Bob Butt trained Ukraine proved too strong for Music Mistress in the $15,000 Diamond Creek Carat Two Year Old Mobile Pace, winning by three quarters of a length.

The race was also a windfall for both the colt’s breeder and owner.

Norwegian Wood Breeding Limited as the breeder gets $4,000, while owner Don Bates gets an additional $8,000 on top of the of $8,250 stake earned by Ukraine.

The bonusing is part of a new initiative by HRNZ and Entain in which two year olds who record their first win against their own age group recieve a $12,000 reward which is split between their breeder and owner.

Captain Crunch has three two year old qualifiers in this country and Ukraine has the honour of being his first winner.

Alabar Stud has three by Captain Crunch in the NZB Standardbred Sales in Auckland including a three quarter brother to unbeaten filly Millwood Nike (Lot 105), so the timing for stallion and vendor is perfect.

Captain Crunch was named 2018 US Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year and he returned as a three year old to win the North America Cup. He was the leading US first season sire last year.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink