Captains Knock
JASON Grimson has the firepower to join rarefied air with a remarkable four Inter Dominion pacing finalists.
Depending on how Saturday night’s last round of qualifying heats goes, Grimson may have Captains Mistress, Minos, Dangerous and Captains Knock in the final.
The last time one stable qualified so many finalists was powerhouse Victorians Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin with four runners in the 2021 Melton final.
They had Act Now (ran third), Honolua Bay (fourth), Mach Dan (10th) and Narutac Prince (11th).
Ironically, Grimson won that final with his lone finalist I Cast No Shadow.
The record number of pacing finalists for one stable came was five the 2019 Auckland series when the dominant Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen won with Ultimate Sniper and also had Thefixer (third), Cruz Bromac (fourth), Ashley Locaz (sixth) and Chase Auckland (10th).
Grimson is already guaranteed a spot with Captains Mistress, courtesy of her stunning win in last Saturday night’s Group 1 Rising Sun, which carried a golden ticket into the $1 million Ladbrokes Inter Dominion final.
Minos ran a slashing third in his first round heat and a top four performance on night two should see him safely through.
Dangerous and Captains Knock will need at least top two finishes on Saturday night, but have the barrier draws to do so.
Dangerous only ran eighth on opening night, but his run from well back and coming wide was terrific. He has the gold of gate one on Saturday night and is $1.60 favourite to win race two.
Captains Knock only joined Grimson’s stable this week, but the millionaire pacer has the gate speed to lead from gate three in race four and has been backed from $5 into $3.60 to win the heat.
After drawing poorly and finishing ninth on night one, Captains Knock may need to win to be safely into the final. Depending on others, maybe a second placing could get him through.
Grimson, just 32, is trying to become the youngest and just the fifth trainer to win at least three Inter Dominion pacing finals.
He would join Hall of Famers Natalie Rasmussen, Brian Hancock, Gary Hall Sr and Mark Purdon.
Rasmussen and Hancock hold the record with five wins.
Grimson will be trying to win it with a third different horse after Boncel Benjamin won in 2021 and I Cast No Shadow in 2022.
Only Hancock and Purdon have won with three different horses.
Hancock’s wins were Thorate (1990), Weona Warrior (1994) and Our Sir Vancelot (1997, ’98 and ’99).
Purdon won with Smolda (2016), Lazarus (2017) and Ultimate Sniper (2019).
PHOTO: Captains Knock - Club Menangle/Pacepix
