Captains Knock secures TAB Eureka slot

EMERGING NSW star Captains Knock is the second confirmed runner of the world’s richest pacing race, the $2.1mil TAB Eureka at Menangle on September 7.

Daniel Cordina confirmed Captains Knock would run in the slot he manages under the banner Cordina Racing.

“We’re very excited. It’s been building for a while, since I spoke with Brad (Hewitt, trainer-driver) back in mid-January and now we’ve locked it all away,” Cordina said.

“We like to get in early, albeit last year’s winner (Encipher) was the last horse into the race, we prefer to get everything sorted and in place early.”

Cordina has watched Captains Knock closely since that January 20 win at Menangle and been very impressed.

“His five runs since have all been in very strong races and he’s kept running really well, including that third in one of the strongest Chariots Of Fires we’ve ever seen,” he said.

“Even last start, to run fourth against the seasoned older horse in the Lighthorse and get so close after getting a bit too keen and over-racing at times, it was a fantastic run.”

Hewitt believes the best is still to come with Captain Knock, despite him boasting 12 wins from just 25 starts and almost $350,000 in prize money.

“He’s still maturing and now we’ve got the spot locked away, it gives us the advantage of being able to pick and choose where we go without being under pressure,” he said.

“He had a little hoof issue after the past couple of runs, so we’re giving him a break and missing the Wagga series with a view to getting him back and targeting Queensland in winter, especially the (Group 1) Rising Sun.

“It fits really well because it’s only about six weeks from there until the TAB Eureka.

“With a good foundation behind him and more experiences in some good races, he should be better than we’ve ever had him by Eureka time.”

Captains Knock is owned by the Triple Play Syndicate, including passionate harness man and former Canberra Raiders NRL captain and superstar Jarrod Croker.

“I’ve met Brad, Jarrod and the guys as part of the process and it feels like we’ll be enjoying the ride together as we build-up to the race,” Cordina said.

“Win, lose or draw, we just love being part of a race that is so big and important to harness racing, especially at Menangle.”

Captains Knock joins young WA star Never Ending (Soho Standardbreds slot) as the only confirmed TAB Eureka runners so far.

Slot holders Captains Knock to run in the World’s Richest Harness Race.