Rakero Rocket, Captains Mistress and Tokyo Rose have all turned heads in recent weeks and appeared to be racing stars in the making.
All three smashed the clock by winning at Menangle last Saturday evening.
And Captains Mistress is $1.40 favorite to take two wins from as many starts for the stable in the New Years Gift final (1609m) at Menangle this Saturday evening.
It follows her sparkling debut win for Grimson when she completed a mile in 1 minute 50 seconds to win by 18.6 metres.
Remarkably, her final quarter of 25.3 seconds was the fastest ever run at Menangle.
Tokyo Rose took two wins ahead of Grimson last week with a mile of 1:49.4 seconds, but went even faster with 1:48.7 seconds on his debut for the barn a week earlier.
“Tokyo Rose surprised a few people, but not Cam (Hart) and I,” Grimson told SENTrack radio. “We’ve loved her since she came here.
“As good as Tokyo Rose is, Captains Mistress is outstanding and I think she could be a rare mare to win the Chariots Of Fire.”
Only three mares have won the Chariots Of Fire since it was first held in 1996. They are: Innocent Eyes (2006), Oaxaca Lass (2003) and Lombo Rapida (2000).
Grimson said one of Tokyo Rose or Captains Mistress would accompany his champion stayer Swayzee to Victoria next week.
Swayzee will end his preparation on Saturday evening as the $1.04 favorite in the 2300m free for all at Menangle.
He will likely back up against Leap To Fame and perhaps New Zealand Cup champions Kingman in the $100,000 Group 2 Ballarat Cup a week later.
Whichever mare Grimson heads south will clash with champion mare Eye Keep Smiling in the $50,000 Group 3 Make Mine Cullen on the same evening.
The other mares’ features during Victoria’s Summer of Glory include the $50,000 Group 3 Angelique at Cranbourne on January 30 and the $150,000 Group 1 Queen of the Pacific at Melton on February 14.
But Grimson said Rakero Rocket would likely remain in NSW.
“I haven’t completely ruled out the Hunter Cup, but he looks such a good Miracle Mile horse, that’s our main goal,” he said.
Rakero Rocket recorded a 1:47.3 second victory in Menangle last Saturday evening.
It was second only to My Field Marshal’s 1min46.9sec in the 2018 Miracle Mile as the fastest mile in Australasian history.
“Cam and I love him,” Grimson said. ‘He was a bit of a rascal when he first came along, but he shows why we like him so much now.
“Not only is he a leader, he will also be explosive. He is versatile.”
Beyond the Miracle Mile, Grimson said he would almost certainly have an entrant in the Race.
“The owners of Rakero Rocket have a spot, but whether he goes or Swayzee, I’m not sure,” he said.
“I’m also talking to the people from Perth about their final race. I doubt I’d take Swayzee there, so maybe that’s an option for Rakero Rocket.”
Through Adam Hamiltonfor Harness Racing New Zealand
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