Clap for the Wolfman

The undercard at last night’s Premier race night at Addington provided it’s share of highlights with none better than Captain Wolf’s (Captain Crunch) win in the Tyre General Mobile Pace.

“I’m ecstatic. We were here to find out whether we were aiming high or low and we’ve found out we are definitely aiming high,” part owner and trainer Tony Stratford said.

Driver Mark Hurrell had to take a hold of two year old as the mobile pulled away, he was keen to get on with the job. Once the field settled he was nineth on the outside. At the 1000 Hurrell moved out to make his run. But Aardie’s Memphis on his inside had similar ideas and shunted Captain Wolf four wide. Hurrell had no option but to continue on his run which took him to the parked spot. By the 400 he’d got to the front and was a sitting duck to be run down. But like a good horse, he found another gear and drew away to win by three lengths from Aardies Memphis.

CAPTAIN WOLF REPLAY

“Mark said he just floated up the straight and reckoned he could have doubled his margin. He just coasted. He’s got a motor and high speed. He’s a very good horse.”

After last night’s performance the owners are now seriously considering paying the $20,000 late entry fee for the Sires Stakes Series.

“We’ll sleep on it, but at this stage it’s a possibility.”

Unlike all the other entries in the series, Captain Wolf has only one heat left at Ashburton to qualify for the $200,000 Group One final on Cup Day.

“He’ll have to run top three or four to make the final. On that performance I don’t think that’ll be a problem. It’s going to be a $20,000 gamble but I think he’s worth it. He’s a big boy and close to seventeen hands and he’s only two. When he actually furnishes into himself he’ll be one mean commodity.”

Surprisingly there have been no offers for Captain Wolf.

“All the way through in his trials and workouts he’s been unbeaten and no one has really approached us. That’s good and at this stage he won’t be going anywhere.”

Stratford says if Captain Wolf progresses to become a Derby horse next year, Australia could be an option.

“Maybe we’ll just send him over to Jason Grimson. You see horses that go over there they win a million – two million. That’s an option. He may end up over there somewhere down the line.”

Captain Wolf is owned by Stratford, Craig Dempster and his breeder Tim Grant.

“Craig was at Barrie Barber’s funeral a couple of weeks ago and was sitting beside Bruce Negus. In small talk Bruce asked Craig if he had any horses. Craig said he had a share in Captain Wolf and Bruce said straight away that that horse would win the Derby next year.”

Negus won the 1999 Derby with Courage Under Fire.

Stratford doesn’t take too many horses north and has recorded two wins on the metropolitan track – Especial in 2017 and Le Sol in 2012.

“Normally when you come up here you have to bring the right horse to be competitive. Normally they get a dollar, but this time I think we’ve brought a special one.”

Stratford has trained a number of handy horses, including Pulp Fiction which won twelve races.

“This horse is a different level. I don’t think I’ll get another one like him in my lifetime.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink