MOST drivers dream of getting one career-changing horse, but young gun Cam Hart’s had two in his relatively short career.
Hart, 27, has champion stayer Swayzee to thank for propelling him into the absolutely big league across Australia and New Zealand.
‘Together they have snagged two NZ Cups, two Hunter Cups, a Victoria Cup, a Blacks A Fake and so much more.
It’s a remarkable CV given Swayzee has been racing at the same time as his younger sibling, and arguably Australia’s all-time greatest pacer, Leap To Fame.
While Swayzee is in the twilight of his career but still in the biggest races, Hart is doing amazing things with young mare Captains Mistress.
Their latest “romp” came last night in Australasia’s premier mares’ race, the $200,000 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Mile at Menangle.
As she has done so often, Captains Mistress turned a Group 1 race into an effortlessly, almost arrogant win.
The Jason Grimson-trained mare raced clear to win by almost 13m in a 1min49.7sec mile, scorching home her closing splits in 53.3 and 26.4sec.
"They (Swayzee) and Captains Mistress are so different, but amazing in their own ways.
"Swayzee is the greatest horse I've driven and he's done things for me, Jase (Grimson, trainer) and Mick (Boots, owner) we'll never forget and may never do again.
"And now we're together again with Captains Mistress, who is just a freak, a superstar and for sheer excitement, the best I've driven. She's just got so much speed."
Hart said Captains Mistress again gave him a feeling like no other horse last night.
"The sectionals (times) she puts up at the back end of these strong miles is incredible," he said. "It's like strapping yourself onto a rocket and just holding on," he said.
"She's one out of the box, this girl and hopefully we can head up to Brisbane and have more success."
Captains Mistress' next major target is the $350,000 Group 1 Rising Sun at Albion Park on July 4.
A Rising Sun win would get her a golden ticket into the $1 million Inter Dominion final on July 18 and give connections plenty to consider.
Captains Mistress was the second leg of a Group 1 double last night for Hart, who also teamed with powerhouse Victorian trainers Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin to win the NSW Oaks with Arrhythmia.
“She was a great filly for us as a two-year-old and to come back even better is really special,” he said.
Arrhythmia, who boasts 10 wins from just 12 starts, is now set to head north in July to chase the Group 1 Queensland Oaks.
Star Victorian mare Rockinwithattitude delivered one of the stories of the night when she upstaged a hot field to win the Group 1 Macarthur Mile.
“She’s won at Group 1 level at two, three, four and now six … and she didn’t race at five (with a knee injury). She’s a real warhorse and has been everywhere, we love her,” trainer-driver David Miles said.
Young NSW driver Lleyton Green landed the first Group 1 of his career when Gladiatrix finished strongly to win the NSW Trotters’ Oaks.
“I’d run a heap of (Group 1) placings, so to get the monkey off my back and win one is awesome.” Green said.
PHOTO: Club Menangle/Pacepix
