Photo: Western Racepix
Hours after Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) dazzled in the $3.5m NZB Kiwi (1500m) and Jedibeel (NZ) (Savabeel) won Sydney’s Group Two Challenge Stakes (1000m), the A$150,000 Listed Swan Draught Bunbury Cup (2019m) produced Saturday’s third stakes-winning Karaka graduate by Savabeel.
Captain Pluto (NZ) (Savabeel) was offered by Rich Hill Stud in Book 1 of Karaka 2021, where he failed to meet his $150,000 reserve. He has now earned A$358,765 from a 25-race career that has produced six wins and 10 placings.
Captain Pluto went into Saturday’s Bunbury Cup with admirably consistent form this preparation. His eight starts this season had produced two wins, two seconds and three thirds, all over distances ranging from 1400 to 1600 metres. On Saturday he stepped up to a middle-distance for the first time in 12 months, and his stamina and quality shone through.
Jockey William Pike settled Captain Pluto in midfield and had him travelling sweetly all the way. Pike pushed the button at the top of the straight and Captain Pluto quickly burst into contention, surging to the front and pulling away to win by just over a length.
“He’d previously run a lot of good races for me without quite getting a win on the board,” Pike said. “This is nice and rewarding, and the horse really deserved that win. I was glad to get the ride right today, after a bit of trial and error.
“He travelled really well the whole way today and I was following the right horses. I was always happy. When I clicked him up around the 600, he really hit the bridle hard. I made sure I popped him into the clear nice and early. He was filling me with a lot of confidence.
“He could very well be a Perth Cup (Group Two, 2400m) horse. He’s getting up in distance now and he’s in his element. Once they start getting up over these staying trips, you never really know where they’ll end up.”
Captain Pluto is trained by Grant and Alana Williams for breeders Ultra Thoroughbreds, who share ownership with Ms S J Leury.
