Captain Cook has discovered a way to win in Australia after the former English galloper led and won the Group 3 JRA Cup (2040m) at The Valley.
Trainer Chris Waller said a daring ride from Linda Meech made the difference in a race where a whisker separated Captain Cook from the runner-up Sully.
In one of her first rides for the all-conquering Sydney stable, Meech decided to take Captain Cook ($4.80) to the front for fear of being caught wide and it proved a masterstroke as the horse nosed out Sully ($9) in a desperate drive to the line.
“A lot of jockeys especially riding for us, when they are not used to us are probably a little bit unsure of making those types of decisions but that shows her confidence,” Waller said.
“She hasn’t done a lot of riding for us but we notice how many winners she rides. It’s hard to miss when they are riding that many winners.”
Meech said she felt Sully was going to beat her when he got a head in front after turning for home.
“I thought I was going to come second but he just kept kicking all the way to the line,” she said.
“There was no speed on paper and you know with Chris Waller they are hard-fit and so I was just rapt to get another win for him.”
Captain Cook is not considered a major Cups chance but Waller said a race like the $400,000 Cranbourne Cup in two weeks would be ideal for the horse.
The seven-year-old son of Dubawi was having just his fourth run in this country after making the trek from England where he raced with some success as Autocratic. – Racing.com
