Brilliant NSW pacer Captains Mistress etched her name into the history books becoming the first mare to win the Group 1 Victoria Cup at Melton on Saturday night.
A prohibitive $1.10 favorite since the barrier draw allocated her the number three gate, the Jason Grimson prepared Captains Mistress worked to the lead with 1700 metres to travel after wresting the lead off Nyack.
As expected, the result thereafter was never in doubt as driver Cam Hart released the reins during the final lap on Captains Mistress who reeled off a 53.9 last 800 metres in defeating a gallant Nyack by a metre with stablemate Our Sunset Delight three metres away third in a mile rate of 1:52.6.
It was Hart’s second win in the race after saluting on the Grimson trained Swayzee two years ago.
“It’s super exciting to have a mare that is this good to take on the boys the way she is at the moment, its pretty special,” Hart said.
Hart admitted he had little cause for concern once in the lead.
“I was pretty confident the whole way, I settled one off when Nyack got across and then I was able to control that first half as l liked,” he said.
“She felt really nice down the back although she has been in season the last couple of days so I was a little bit worried, she had a little bit more attitude than normal but she still seemed to race pretty well.”
Captains Mistress’ owner Mick Boots has veered off the predictable pathway for her immediate racing agenda heading to the most picturesque track in this part of the world.
The daughter of Captaintreacherous’ next start will be in the Kaikoura Cup on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand before the lure of the $1m Summer Of Glory bonus takes hold.
The win was Captains Mistress’ sixth Group 1 success since joining the Grimson stable at the start of the year.
Captains Mistress will now chase a slice of the $1 million Summer of Glory bonus, with connections set to target a series of Victorian Cups early next year.
The Bendigo Cup on January 9 looms as her next Victorian likely assignment, followed by the Ballarat, Cranbourne Gold and Kilmore Cups, with victory in three qualifying Cups and the Hunter Cup required to claim the lucrative bonus. Leap To Fame, who missed out on last year’s bonus when beaten by Swayzee in the Hunter Cup, could again prove a major obstacle.
