Cambridge not on radar for Captains Mistress
Adam Hamilton • February 9th, 2026 1:11 PM • 4 min read
Brilliant young mare Captains Mistress is unlikely to return to New Zealand for the $1 million Race by betcha at Cambridge on April 10.
Most expected it would be a logical target given her stunning wins in all three starts since moving to Australia and joining Jason Grimson’s stable.
She will be favourite to make that four wins in Saturday night’s $150,000 Group 1 Queen of the Pacific (2760m) at Melton.
Her owner Mick Boots said focus will then switch to the $250,000 Group 1 Chariots Of Fire at Menangle on March 7.
Captains Mistress will need to qualify for the Chariots, most likely through the $30,000 Paleface Adios at Menangle on February 28.
Although Cambridge would fit her schedule, Boots said he wasn’t keen.
“I’ve had approaches, but as it stands I’d prefer to keep her in Australia for now,” he said.
“I don’t want to over race her. I’m already thinking of her value as a broodmare and am mindful of how the mares who do lots of hard racing rarely go on to be good broodmares.
“Unless things change, I’ll retire her at the end of her four-year-old season.
“She’s a very well-bred mare and I got offered big money for her before she left NZ, but wanted to keep her to breed from myself.
“I’m getting more into the breeding. I’ve got 16 foals at home now and another two in Victoria.”
Beyond the Chariots, Boots would love to return to Queensland and try to win the $350,000 Group 1 Rising Sun in July.
“I’d like to see her to at least get a start in the race this year,” he said.
That’s reference to Racing Queensland’s controversial decision to ballot her out of last year’s Rising Sun despite a stellar record.
Boots said Captains Mistress was close to rivalling champion stayer Swayzee as the favourite horse of the 250-plus he owns.
“She’s getting close,” he laughed.
Boots will be at Melton to watch both Captains Mistress and Swayzee race on Saturday night.
Swayzee is trying to successfully defend his Hunter Cup crown.
“The draws are going to be so important. They’re an amazing group of horses at the moment. Leap To Fame is the best around and Kingman is the new kid on the block,” he said.
“Cam (Hart, driver) was happy with his Cranbourne (Cup) run considering where he was and how the race was run.
“He said he felt really strong on the line and kept going strongly well past the line.
“People have said it comes down to who draws best, so we’ll need better luck at the draw than we got at Cranbourne.
“He’s a fantastic old horse who always gives his all.”
Boots said plans for Swayzee beyond the Hunter Cup were yet to be finalised.
