The event was the third leg of the New South Wales Carnival of Cups, with previous events in Wagga and Newcastle. And all eyes were on Captains Knock, who was in line to receive the $250,000 bonus, having won both previous events.
Such was his presence that it deterred many of his potential rivals, but the veteran Max Delight was entered by his trainer David Aiken, which at least ensured a decent race.
Bettors took advantage of the very short odds for Captains Knock, with Max Delight considered the only possible danger.
CAPTAINS KNOCK JAN 30 REPEAT
Captains Knock’s Brad Hewitt had no problem moving into the lead, while Will Rixon sent Max Delight back to the back. Kanena Provlima took the lead behind the leader, but Hewitt judged Captains Knock to be in the lead at a comfortable pace. Rixon decided to go up and apply some pressure with two laps to go, and he had no choice but to race outsider Captains Knock.
Hewitt would not go too fast over the test distance of 2790 meters. But it was clear that far from home it would be a battle between Captains Knock and Max Delight.
After a slow first lap, Captains Knock started to apply pressure during his first two quarters in 28.5 and 28 seconds, which proved a little too much for his rivals. Max Delight continued to fight, but Captains Knock had built up a decisive lead when straightening out. Max Delight switched to the inside but was safely held at just under seven meters, while Kanena Provlima was third a further twelve meters away. Captains Knock ran a time of 1:56.4, outside Swayzee’s track record of 1:54.9.
Trainer driver Brad Hewitt was relieved after the success.
He’s been a great horse. The last start was a bit of a disappointment. He’s had to overcome a few issues, even a few this week. It is the horse’s merit that he is strong and gets the job done. He was certainly not his best last start. At the last start it was probably my fault I scratched him from Goulburn because he wasn’t right. I started it a week later because I thought I had it back where I needed it. He was still clearly feeling the effects of being a little off.
I couldn’t have been happier with his work since then. He works just like he did before Wagga and Newcastle. I knew I had him in a good place again. It’s just a relief to get that one off the road.
I would have been happier to go along and keep everyone happy, but given the six-horse field I was a little worried about Max Delight if I went a little too fast and he came along at the right time then it would have been difficult. I was happy to flush him out early. From then on it was a really solid running race. And I was happy to have him (Max Delight) on my outside and he was just too good.
He is such a well-behaved little horse and he is not too big and that helps him.
The smaller circuit (Albury) makes it tough. We got this out of the way. Everything else is a bonus.
He had a hoof problem this week, to his credit he comes out and gets the job done.
Captains Knock is run by the popular Triple Play Syndicate and his win took his record to 26 wins and 20 placings from 65 starts and an impressive $1,044,026.
Captains Knock is likely to take his place in the fourth leg of the New South Wales Country Cups in Albury on Friday, February 13 and has the chance to earn a further $250,000 bonus. At this stage most of the big players will be in Melton the following evening for the AG Hunter Cup, so he is likely to face another similar field to the one he met at Bathurst.
And if he wins the Renshaw Cup in Penrith on March 20, he will earn another $500,000 bonus, although he is likely to face a stronger field there.
The Goldrush Cup capped off a great night for the Bathurst club, attracting a large crowd and plenty of entertainment for clubgoers. The next big event for Bathurst will be their famous Gold Crown Carnival in March.
By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink
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