Sure winning is great, but Vic Husslers owners have every right to be delighted with Team Captain’s almighty effort to finish third in the $300,000 Sportsbet Pakenham Cup (2500m) on Saturday, December 3.
Team Captain was looking to make it three straight wins for the Vic Huslslers and hundreds of owners converged on Pakenham for the big day. He was sent out a well supported second favourite on Sportsbet behind the highly talented Smokin Romans.
“Luck is a fortune” in the racing game and from what appeared to be a perfect barrier draw – gate 4 – Team Captain missed the start just a fraction and found himself three-wide without cover and unfortunately that’s where he stayed for the entire trip.
“As a trainer, I’m not a jockey bagger and think it was just poor old dumb luck to get stuck wide” trainer Matt Cumani said.
Despite the gut busting run, Team Captain had the audacity to still sprint late and grab third behind Smokin Romans who sat up on the pace and proved too strong late.
Team Captain’s third placing only signals his enormous staying potential and what lies ahead in the Autumn on the road to the Melbourne Cup on that first Tuesday in November 2022 which is the ultimate aim.
Far from disappointed Cumani added. “He’s a great horse that was a fantastic run. He will improve a lot of that, stay all day and I think races like the Adelaide Cup and Sydney Cup in the Autumn over 3200m will suit him beautifully”
“We are on the road to the Melbourne Cup and we have to keep improving him and I think he will keep improving over that 3200m,” Cumani added.
Team Captain has pulled up very well, and goes out for a bit of a short break in good condition.
He earnt 15 points for the Vic Husslers taking them to 71 points on The Racing League ladder behind the Queensland Rogues 105.
Terry Kennedy