NZ itinerary confirmed for Captains Mistress

By Adam Hamilton 

Wonder mare Captains Mistress is being set for an extended New Zealand campaign to finish the year.

The Inter Dominion champion will target the Group 1 Victoria Cup on October 17 but then spend the remainder of 2026 racing in NZ.

Although the iconic NZ Cup isn’t on the radar, Kiwis will get to see plenty of her.

While many thought talk of a Kaikoura Cup start was folly, owner Mick Boots said it was a lock.

“I’ve been invited to Kaikoura a few times but have never been. It’s something both Jason (Grimson, trainer) and I want to do,” he said.

“She’ll go there, probably run in the Free-For-All during NZ Cup Week and then there’s another big four-year-old race (the $100,000 Christian Cullen on November 20) after that at Addington, too.

“Then she can go up north and there’s another big race for her at Alexandra Park ($100,000 Queen of Hearts on December 11).

“I’m looking forward to taking her back over there. I love racing horses in NZ and going over there, the people are fantastic and they really appreciate the top horses.”

It also opens the possibility of staying for the $200,000 Auckland Cup on New Year’s Eve.

Boots said beyond that Captains Mistress would skip the Hunter Cup to focus on the $A1 million Miracle Mile next March.

While Captains Mistress won’t chase the NZ Cup, Boots expects to have two runners.

Dual winner Swayzee returns to the trials at Menangle on Wednesday.

“He and Minos are the two for the NZ Cup,” he said. “Grimmo seems happy with Swayzee and we’d love to take him back for another go at the Cup.

“Minos isn’t far away either. He and Captains Mistress will trial in a couple of weeks.”

Swayzee, who boasts 33 wins and over $A2.6 million, hasn’t raced since finishing third to Got The Chocolates in the Group 1 Messenger at Alexandra Park on May 8.

He developed tying-up issues during that NZ campaign and Grimson gave him an extended break, bypassing the Brisbane Inter Dominion.

Minos was one of the “finds” of the Brisbane Inter Dominion with a win and a second in his heats then a good fourth to Captains Mistress in the final.