Captains Knock leading the field in the TAB Gold Rush Cup. Photo by Brett Atkins
Champion Goulburn pacer Captains Knock returned to his brilliant best at Bathurst last Friday night to capture the $60,000 Gold Rush Cup, his third feature win in the current TAB Carnival of Cups series.
In front of one of the largest crowds seen at that venue, the popular pacer turned it all around following a few niggling health problems to secure a $250,000 Carnival of Cups bonus and is in contention for the $1million bonus if he is to win the upcoming Cup features at Albury and Penrith CoC’s.
Upon his return to scale, Captains Knock was applauded by his group of owners while trainer-driver Brad Hewitt showed a hint of jubilation.
“He is a good horse, he has bounced back well from a couple of setbacks,” said Hewitt.
“Things have not been quite right with him; I have been working against some frustrating niggling issues over the past month that we needed to get right.
“He was below his best in his past two outings, I thought I had him right, but it was obvious that something was still amiss.
“Tonight, he felt as though he was back to near his best which is a huge relief.
“His owners are a great bunch, so it was satisfying to secure the $250,000 bonus for them and we can now push on to chase the Cup races at Albury and Penrith.”
Captains Knock will head to Albury on February 13, followed by Penrith on March 20.
“I have no concerns about him handling the half mile tracks even though he has raced on both the 1000 and 1400 metre circuits to date,” said Hewitt.
“He is such a well gaited horse and there will be no issue there.
“Due to the race conditions he will draw poorly, but if luck goes his way he should be hard to beat.”
