US Captain 2yo on winning march to Sire Stakes

US Captain two-year-old gelding Hawaiian Warfare has given his connections plenty to smile about lately.

Improving every time he starts, Hawaiian Warfare stepped up yet again at Harrington Raceway at Delaware on Tuesday New Zealand time, when he was a winner against field of mainly three-year-olds.

Starting from barrier six, Hawaiian Warfare was sent forward in search of the lead by driver Allan Davis and soon found it inside the first quarter.

With the favourite stalking him throughout, Hawaiian Warfare looked impressive in his work and was asked to extend over the final 400m and drew out to a handy advantage holding off a late rally by three-year-old Key Largo Hanover.

It was a narrow but brave victory, and the gelding showed great grit and determination and a strong will to win in the home straight.

https://youtu.be/GwuvwXUnrbY

He’s now taken his career record to four starts, three wins and one third placing. He is out of Stay Hungry mare, Ukelele Blue Chip.

Breeder and owner Forrest Bartlett of North Carolina has been thrilled with the way the gelding has progressed.

“Yeah, he’s a nice colt alright,” Forrest told Wai Eyre Farm.

“He looks a whole lot like US Captain himself. He’s a nice good-sized horse, with a good head on his shoulders.”

“He just does what you want him to do.”

Forrest seized the opportunity to breed to the regally bred US Captain out of Ukelele Blue Chip while he was still racing, and based nearby.

US Captain served seven mares while still racing, with two now being winners and six have either trialled or raced so far. His oldest are three three-year-olds, four are two-years-old.

“I sent a few mares over to a small farm that had US Captain there when he was still racing, and had them served by him. It was a good opportunity.”

“The ones I have had have been good ones.”

“I have a filly also by US Captain that I would say is just as fast as Hawaiian Warfare, he’s just a bit more ahead of her in maturity. But she can run too.”

“I told my girls as we were breaking them both in that she’s just as fast, but this colt is going to be a really nice horse.”

And with every race Hawaiian Warfare has competed in, the early impressions he had given his owner and trainer Erin Neilson have been validated.

That now means some big goals for his season as a two-year-old.

“I’m really interested in racing Hawaiian Warfare in the Delaware Sire Stakes, racing through that series and the way he is going he could easily win about $150,000 this year.”

“I think this horse can do it absolutely. I have gone close before in the series, winning the heats but missing the final. But the way this horse is going I haven’t really seen anything else around that can match him at this time.”

“I am also thrilled to hear that US Captain has been well supported down under. I think he’s going to be a great stud for you down there.”

Forrest has had a long association with the sport of harness racing and was also the breeder of US Captain gelding, Send Me Ten, who was the stallion’s first winner won twice as a two-year-old last year.

He’s no stranger to a good horse either, having previously owned the 1986 US Horse Of The Year, Forrest Skipper, who also stood at stud at Roydon Lodge in Christchurch for part of his stud career.

Forrest is hoping that all these years later, he will still be able to enjoy racing a good horse in some feature races, and Hawaiian Warfare certainly presents him with that opportunity.

The Delaware Sire Stakes series will commence I mid September, with finals in early October.

US Captain served an outstanding book of 94 mares in New Zealand in his first season, and was the third best supported stallion.

He will once again stand for just $3,000 plus GST, with the fee including the working fee for mares served at Wai Eyre Farm or Macca Lodge.

US Captain is by a World Champion in Captaintreacherous, out of the legendary World Champion mare in American Jewel (American Ideal). He presents breeders with a unique and affordable opportunity to breed to a proven pedigree of modern racing royalty, with proven results from very small numbers already.