Captains Knock
CLASSY pacer Captains Knock will push ahead to the The Race at Cambridge next month after falling heartbreakingly short of a record $1 million bonus at Penrith last Friday night.
The six-year-old missed banking the NSW Carnival of Cups bonus by a half-head when second and rundown late by the much-improved Ubetcha Tigerpie in the Renshaw Cup.
Like Swayzee last year, Captains Knock won four of the five legs of the NSW Carnival of Cups and finished second in the other.
They both still banked $500,000 for connections.
“It’s frustrating to get so close, but he gave it everything. The winner just went super on the night,” trainer-driver Brad Hewitt said.
“He wasn’t at his most comfortable on the tight track. Apart from Albury, where he didn’t enjoy the small track at all, he hadn’t been around a track like Penrith this he raced there about four years ago.
“He’s coming to the end of a long campaign, but he seems good since the race so we will push on the NZ.
“After NZ he can have a long spell. He’ll miss the Inter Dominion.”
Captains Knock has won 27 of his 68 starts and banked $838,351, but that doesn’t include the $500,000 bonus.
In other stable news, Hewitt said his former Inter Dominion-winning trotter The Locomotive was progressing well on the comeback trail.
“He’s due back in my stable next month. So far, so good,” he said.
“He’s down at Nathan Jack’s on the water-walker, then he comes back here.
“He’s the sort of horse who comes to hand quickly because he really gets into his work.
“The plan is the Inter Dominion (Albion Park in July) and time is on our side at the moment.”
The Locomotive hasn’t raced since being struck down with niggling issues after winning at Menangle on November 29.
It ruled him out of early season features like the Great Southern Star, Hammerhead Mile and Trot Slot in Cambridge.
PHOTO: HRNSW/Brett Atkins
