NZ Cup possibly on the radar for Captains Mistress

Leviathan owner Mick Boots has kept the door open for champion mare Captains Mistress to chase the New Zealand Cup.

But any firm decision won’t be made until after the Brisbane winter carnival.

“Let’s see how she gets through the next couple of months,” he said. “We’ve got some big targets and I don’t want to race her too much.

“If the next couple of months go well, Jason (Grimson, trainer) and I will talk and decide if she retires or we give her a break and look at a race like NZ.”

She is currently at $14 on the TAB Futures market for the New Zealand Cup at Addington on Tuesday, November 10.

She’s won eight from nine this year and will be a dominant favourite from the pole in Saturday night’s JD Watts free-for-all (1609m) at Menangle.

It will be her last NSW run before heading to Queensland to try standing start racing for the first time in the $100,000 Group 2 Redcliffe Cup on June 20.

From there, she heads to the $350,000 Group 1 Rising Sun on July 4.

Victory in the Rising Sun will get her a golden ticket into the $1 million Inter Dominion final on July 18.

But Boots said there was no certainty they would accept it.

“No, that’ll be another conversation at the time,” he said. “I’m not as keen as Jason is on that one.”

Boots holds a remarkable hand in the Rising Sun, also being a major owner in superstar three-year-old Hollywood Strip.

The three-year-old made it 11 wins from just 12 starts when he cruised home in last Saturday night’s Nutrien 3YO final at Wagga.

“He’s a freak,” Boots said. “He’s just a great horse to do anything with, too.”

Hollywood Strip has the $150,000 Group 1 Queensland Derby after the Rising Sun.

Boots’ champion stayer Swayzee won’t contest the Brisbane Inter Dominion.

Trainer Jason Grimson told SEN Radio’s Gareth Hall that Swayzee had tying up issues after his recent NZ campaign and was having a spell.

Boots also recently bought a half-share in boom two-year-old and Bathurst Gold Crown winner Jacwill Kid.

He has switched from Victorian trainer Geoff Webster to Grimson’s stable.

“Jason obviously likes the horse because he asked if I’d take a half share and he arrived at his stable last Monday,” Boots said.

 

by Adam Hamilton for Harness Racing New Zealand