Son of US Captain wins $110,000 Delaware feature
US Captain has delivered a huge achievement already at stud, with his two-year-old son Hawaiian Warfare winning the $110,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund Final at Harrington Raceway on Tuesday NZT.
After going through the heats undefeated, Hawaiian Warfare faced a huge task from post seven around the tight half-mile track.
Despite his impeccable form, that barrier position would mean that the two-year-old would need to show great heart and acceleration on the tight turning circuit to overcome it.
Regular driver Mike Cole used Hawaiian Warfare’s early speed to get handy and settle four back in the running, before moving out to one-one cover inside the final half mile.
But mid-way down the back stretch Cole elected to send Hawaiian Warfare forward three wide to put pressure on the pacemakers.
The son of US Captain boomed forward and stuck his head in front on the home turn, before drawing away and buttoning off in the last metres to win comfortably by a neck easing down.
It may have looked like a tough run, but his driver knew he had it in him.
“He can still act like a bit of a colt, he only goes to business when I make him so it looked like I was having to work hard on him down the back. But he’s only playing around,” said driver Mike Cole.
“He just did what he had to, but at the three-quarter pole when I said get going he did. And when you look at the replay as I went past them in the straight you can see me turn back and smile, I just said to the horse alright now you can cruise as I knew nothing was going to get past him.”
“I know he’s stressed a lot of people out with how he finishes at times, but he only does enough to win. He’s not lazy or switching off, he just knows he’s got it.”
“He can be a bit like me, a joker at times. Everything to him is a game,” laughed Mike.
“I’ve just got the confidence in him because I’ve been with him from day one.”
We asked Mike what he felt was the most exciting thing about driving Hawaiian Warfare.
“He’s got another gear there that nobody’s seen.”
“He’s yet to mature into his capability, and you haven’t seen nothing yet.”
“I’m a humble person, I’m not conceited I just know this horse has the talent and no one has really tested him yet.”
After some recent gear changes to his bridle the horse has been travelling better with each start, and in the final Mike commented that he steered better and is developing nicely with each start.
“I think the horse is much better from behind rather than in front, as he doesn’t always win by much. But he’s still won seven in a row, now matter how I do it.”
“He still acts like a young colt. He’s out there having fun, so when I make him go up and do the business he knows what he’s there for.
From a trainers perspective, the win has delivered on months of preparation knowing the horse had all the attributes needed to win the prestigious juvenile series.
“I knew he had the talent and ability to win the final, but it’s horse racing and anything can happen,” trainer Erin Neilson told Wai Eyre Farm.
“So when he crossed the wire first I was absolutely thrilled.”
“There nothing quite like watching a horse you believe in prove himself.”
The win was his seventh in a row, and he has now won seven of eight career starts with the other start being a third placing against older horses on debut.
Hawaiian Warfare will now freshen briefly, before heading to Dover Downs for the Matron Series which starts on November 6 NZT.
He is owned by his breeder Forrest Bartlett, who is best known in the harness racing industry for his former Horse of the Year, Forrest Skipper.
Hawaiian Warfare is out of Ukelele Blue Chip, a mare by Stay Hungry
US Captain has had an exceptional start to his stud career, after siring seven foals while still racing all seven have now either qualified or raced, with two individual winners to date (Hawaiian Warfare, 7 wins, and Send Me Ten, 2 wins).
He stands at Wai Eyre Farm in Canterbury for just $3,000 plus GST for New Zealand breeders, with the working fee included for mares served at Wai Eyre Farm or Macca Lodge, and $3,300 including GST for Australian breeders
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