Captains Mistress winning the 2026 Chariots Of Fire
CHAMPION mare Captains Mistress’ Queensland campaign just got a lot bigger.
The Chariots Of Fire winner is poised to target three major races, including the $1 million Ladbrokes Inter Dominion final, during June and July.
Speaking on SEN’s Giddy Up with Gareth show, trainer Jason Grimson dropped a couple of exciting revelations about Captains Mistress.
“I’ve just trialled her from a standing-start and she handled it well, so she might go to the (Group 2) Redcliffe (Gold) Cup, as long as she doesn’t get a 30m handicap or something like that. The timing works,” he said.
The $106,070 Redcliffe Gold Cup is on June 20, two weeks ahead of the $350,000 Group 1 Rising Sun, which Captains Mistress is a $1.50 pre-post favourite to win.
The Rising Sun winner gets a golden ticket into the $1 million Inter Dominion final on July 18.
“Yeah, as long as you run in the four-year-old race the week after (July 11), then you get into the Inter Dominion,” Grimson said.
“I wouldn’t hesitate starting her (in the Inter Dominion final) if she’s going the way she is now.
“The (longer) distance won’t worry her because she conserves her energy so much and relaxes so well. She’s the real deal.”
Grimson expects stable driver Cam Hart to drive Captains Mistress when she next clashes with champion stablemate Swayzee.
“I think Cam would jump off (Swayzee). She’s honestly a freak this mare.”
Swayzee is back home after a winless four-race NZ raid.
Grimson said there may have been excuses for his latest well beaten third to younger Kiwi stars Got The Chocolates and The Lazarus Effect at Alexandra Park last Friday week.
“He didn’t pull-up well. He was blowing way harder than normal and had a slow recovery. He wasn’t 100 per cent after the race,” he said.
“He seems brighter now he’s back home. We’ll see how he is over the next couple of weeks, but he should be ready for Queensland.”
Grimson is one many trainers planning a major Queensland raid.
“I’ll probably take about 12 (horses) up,” he said. “I’ll go in early June and stay two months.
“Zeus Lightning and Maxo Mighty are three-year-olds for the Derby. I’ve got a new mare, Spiritual Bliss, and Tokyo Rose for the mares’ races.”
PHOTO: Club Menangle/Pacepix
