Team Captain Flies the VIC Husslers Flag at Flemington

Nov 8, 2023

The “old boy” that’s Team Captain, (definitely not his trainer Matt Cumani) who was at it again on Tuesday, delivering memories that will last a lifetime for the Vic Husslers. 

To own a runner on Melbourne Cup day at Flemington is everyone’s dream, for the Vic Husslers they have lived that dream for three successive years courtesy of Team Captain. 

Sure it would have been nice if he won the Macca’s Run over 2800m like he did in 2021 but in finishing fifth he was far from disgraced. 

And judging from the big smiles on the faces of all Husslers who made it to the track, got the inside word from Matt, were welcomed into the Flemington mounting yard and cheered on from the owners enclosure it was an experience which will last a lifetime. A

Helluva Barty Racing at Doomben on 28th Oct 2023

THERE’S STILL A NICE RACE IN HIM

“I still think he has a nice race in him sooner rather than later.

“He’s there abouts we just have to get him to find another couple of lengths and get him back winning again and we can do that” jockey Declan Bates said. 

At the current stage of his career Team Captain needs many things to fall into place. 

He needs to jump, he needs pace in the race, but not too much pace, he’s got to get rolling early because he can’t sit and sprint with the opposition but to his credit he always seems to hit the line well. 

“He began okay and landed one out one back. I was happy with the tempo of the race, it felt like a nice even gallop but when some of them started to quicken around me I wasn’t able to go with them and that forced me back to the inside” Bates said.

Bellinger in the stalls pre-race at Bendigo

“While I wanted a solid pace having a look at the sectionals they actually went a couple of seconds quicker than the benchmark to the 1200m” Trainer Matt Cumani

Bellinger racehorse Vic Husslers

KEEP IN MIND HE WAS SECOND-UP

It’s worth keeping in mind that Team Captain was jumping up to 2800m second-up and will only improve. 

Trainer Matt Cumani certainly hasn’t lost faith in Team Captain delivering more thrills for the Vic Husslers. 

“He is a little bit older now but he certainly still has the ability and just needs things to work perfectly for him.

“While I wanted a solid pace having a look at the sectionals they actually went a couple of seconds quicker than the benchmark to the 1200m so they went solid and what I was happy with is the fact that he finished in front of all the horses that were up on the pace with him”.

Image Courtesy of Janine Hyndes

WHERE TO NOW FOR THE CAPTAIN

Well, it was to be the Sandown Cup over the very suitable distance of 3200m but it’s been rescheduled by the Melbourne Racing Club to next year. 

“I think he’s still got it and going very well, we just need things to work out for us. 

“It’s a real shame they have moved the Sandown Cup with no consultation with the participants, still I just need to sit down with the team and find the next suitable target which are limited” Cumani concluded. 

OWN NOW

BOUNCE BACK FACTOR 

As Tycoons were made aware of, there’s a theory in racing that when a horse suffers from cardiac arrhythmia, “you must back it next start” and they win. 

And that was certainly the message after Cool Jakey suffered cardiac arrhythmia the previous start at Randwick, with Joe Pride telling Tycoons in the pre-race late mail, “Don’t worry about what happened last start, the horse is fine and he looks great,” how right Joe was with Cool Jakey leading all the way.

COOL JAKEY THE KING OF WARWICK FARM 050325

Cool Jakey battling to the line with Emmadella

Cool Jakey trainer Joe Pride, Brave Pride, Jockey Adam Hyeronimus and TK

Trainer Joe Pride and son Brave Pride, Jockey Adam Hyeronimus and TRL Rep TK

HIPPO FROM BARRIER TO BOX

Adam Hyeronimus was having his first sit on Cool Jakey and he rode him a treat. We joked before the race “just go to the front and improve your position” and that’s exactly what he did. 

“He jumped well and found a nice rhythm straight away, he had a nice time so I let him slide early into it at the 600metres so we did go a bit early. 

“He felt fantastic throughout the run and was doing it easily, so I did get a bit of a surprise how quickly he stopped. 

“So maybe I did go too early, but in saying that, maybe seven furlongs is his upper limit. On that effort he’ll be winning again” Jockey Adam Hyeronimus said.

JOE DELIGHTED

“That was good guys” trainer Joe Pride said, with a big smile to a large contingent of NSW Tycoons on Cool Jakey returning to scale. 

“Look it was nice to see him win on a track that wasn’t bottomless wet, it opens up a lot more opportunities for him. 

“In saying that if there was a 1400m for him in a fortnight on a Good track I would probably be reluctant to start him. We need to nurse him through it and the next month – six weeks isn’t going to be easy because it’s carnival time. 

Cool Jakey the king of Warwick Farm with NSW Tycoons

Cool Jakey in the winners circle with NSW Tycoons’ owners

WHATS NEXT – PACK YOUR BAGS

The Tycoons have been very patient with Cool Jakey and their patience has been rewarded. He is building a very nice career record which stands at only 13 starts for 5 wins and a minor placing and is now pushing the $200,000 in prize money. 

‘Jakey’ has initially pulled up well, but we all know that he is a delicate soul and has to be treated with kindness and Joe is reluctant to push him too hard too quickly. Which is fair enough. 

“We might even consider travelling him maybe to Melbourne or Brisbane for a wet track, we just need to look after him.

“He’s been a good horse for us, we will look after him and his best opportunities will come in the Winter,” Joe concluded. 

Congratulations to all NSW Tycoons and winning connections.

Go you good thing!

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