Captains Mistress “ready” for Friday’s resumption at Addington

[Wandering Eyes]

By Jonny Turner 

Captains Mistress can set the direction for her new campaign when she returns in a Magness Benrow Sires Stakes Semi Final (6.35pm)  at Addington on Friday night.

Last season’s New Zealand Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly Of The Year is fit and ready to make her 2025 debut at the scene of her Group 1 triumph in the Sires Stakes’ Fillies Championship.

The star three-year-old has clearly returned in excellent shape judging by her excellent recent trials in the south.

If – or rather when – she confirms that at the races on Friday night, it will put her feature race plans in place.

Trainer-driver Nathan Williamson has the choice of targeting a Northern Oaks campaign or staying close to home and tackling the Southern Oaks series. 

Williamson has his sights set on Auckland and a big effort at Addington would seal Captains Mistress’ fate.

“We are looking at Auckland and if she can run well on Friday night that would make the decision pretty easy,” Williamson said.

Race fitness appears to be the only factor the southern filly’s rivals have on the proven Group 1 winner.

Though Williamson feels he has Captains Mistress as forward as possible for her fresh-up assignment.

“She was meant to race last week in a Southern Oaks heat that didn’t go ahead, so she is pretty ready.”

“Her trials have all been good and she’s as forward as she can be without having a race.”

“We’ll put her in the race and even though she has improvement to come, I am sure she will run a nice race.”

Impressive first-up winner General Jen clearly looks the hardest horse for Captains Mistress to beat and Williamson agrees.

Hidden Talent returns to Addington on Friday night for the first time since her third in the Group 1 Fred Shaw Memorial New Zealand Trotting Championships.

The classy mare takes on a capacity field in Friday night’s Future Wealth Sires Stakes Aged Trotters Classic.

“She’s in good form and her work has been really good, there’s no reason she can’t go another really good race.”

“She’s a little bit of a one-trick pony in that she is best saved for her speed.”

“We’d like to see a bit of speed on and looking at the field I would say there will be.”

Williamson also takes Rise Up N Dance north to contest Friday night’s opener.

The trainer-driver will be in action at Winton on Friday with Williamson rating Utah Jazz the best winning chance among his team of four. 

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