Captains Mistress ruled out of NZ Cup

By Adam Hamilton 

Wonder mare Captains Mistress won’t chase the New Zealand Cup.

Dreams of the first rematch between Captains Mistress and Leap To Fame at Addington on the second Tuesday in November have been quashed by the mare’s owner, Mick Boots.

“I don’t think it’s a suitable race for her,” he said. “She’s never been over the distance and it’s too short a time (until the race) to try and prepare her for it.

“I also really don’t want to over-race her. I’d planned to retire her this year, but as Jason (Grimson, trainer) said, she can probably earn $800,000 or more if she races on for another year, even if we pick and choose our targets.

“And that’s what we will do. Be selective in where we take her and what she runs in.”

On the upside, Boots said Grimson’s post Inter Dominion comment about the Kaikoura Cup being a target is not a pipedream.

“I wouldn’t be against that. There’s other races she can run in other than the Cup if she goes to NZ later in the year,” he said.

The winner from ruling out the NZ Cup is Harness Racing Victoria.

“The Victoria Cup (October 17) is definitely a race I’m keen on. I’d love to give that a shake,” Boots said.

“Beyond that, we’ll look at races like the Hunter Cup and the Miracle Mile early next year.”

Captains Mistress, who became the first mare since Jodie’s Babe in 1989 to win the Inter Dominion pacing final, is enjoying a month out spelling.

Boots, who owns over 300 horses, described the epic win over Leap To Fame last Saturday week as his biggest thrill in the sport.

“It sure is. The Inter Dominion is the race everybody dreams of winning,” he said. “And to beat Leap To Fame to do it makes it even more special.

“Leap To Fame is the best horse in the world and he had some bad luck early in the race. His run to get so close to our mare was incredible.

“But Cam said Captains Mistress really lifted and was up for the fight when Leap To Fame came at her. Very few horses could do that, Swayzee might be the only other one.

“It would make a good foal, wouldn’t it if we got Leap To Fame and Captains Mistress together.”

Boots said Captains Mistress’ huge Brisbane winter vindicated the decision to be conservative with her when she ran a luckless fifth to Leap To Fame at their only previous clash in the Miracle Mile on March 14.

“Look what she’s done since and the records she’s broken,” he said.

Captains Mistress smashed Leap To Fame’s 2138m track record winning the Group 1 Rising Sun then did the same to Don Hugo’s 2680m Albion Park record in the Inter Dominion final.

It was a golden night for Boots, who also owned Group 1 Queensland Derby winner Palladium, who is trained and driven by Brad Hewitt.

“It goes deeper,” he said. “I bought them about the same time from Laura Smith in NZ ... they all just calmly walk up to her. She’s a horse whisperer.

“Then huge credit has to go to Nathan Williamson, too, who did such a great job with both horses before they came across.

“I still remember Nathan saying early on, after Captains Mistress had trialled against some seasoned horses, that he thought we had something special.”