The captain finally scores on his home deck

By Jordan Gerrans

Having just graduated to nine years of age, Rockhampton galloper Captain Fox has finally ticked the Callaghan Park box. 

Prepared by Peter Fleming at the Central Queensland track, Captain Fox had gone throughout his lengthy career having won nine races around the local area without scoring on his home deck. 

Before Tuesday’s race meeting at ‘Rocky’, the son of Foxwedge had started a remarkable 24 times on his home surface without success.

While he was yet to win at Callaghan Park, he had prevailed on seven occasions at Mackay as well as one victory apiece at Thangool and Yeppoon. 

It was not like Captain Fox was hopeless on his home track throughout his career, which dates back to late 2019 - he had placed 10 times without landing the major prize.

Peter’s wife Tracey was on strapping duties and was beaming post-race on Tuesday when their stable favourite finally broke through at their local track. 

“It is great, isn’t it?” Tracey said.

“He has done well for the owners. They are stoked with him and he just turned nine. It is great.”

Captain Fox is raced by the Daniels brothers – Ross, Jeffrey and Stephen – who call Gindie in regional Queensland home. 

They have been on a magical ride with the sprinter after purchasing him as a weanling for just $15,000 from Melbourne.

Following Tuesday’s win, he had banked $214,725 in career earnings.

Ross points to the fact that Captain Fox has raced locally throughout his 66-start career and has now won 10 races and been placed in 30 more.

Michael Charge, SKY Racing's trackside host at Queensland's regional TAB race meetings, likened Captain Fox’s record to that of the great Chief De Beers in the old days. 

The popular Chief De Beers famously couldn’t win at Eagle Farm but was a Doomben master. 

Chief De Beers’ career record at Doomben – and every other track he raced at, in fact – is still truly remarkable all these decades on.

He will forever be remembered as the ‘King of Doomben’, where he claimed all 20 of his career wins.

The son of Hula Chief did not score at any other track he ever raced at – he was a Doomben specialist.

Ross cannot quite put his finger on why his galloper was yet to win at Callaghan Park before this week.

It makes the situation even more curious when you consider Captain Fox is trained at Rockhampton and has seen the Callaghan Park surface on countless times throughout his racing tenure. 

“Maybe it is the little bit different surface in Mackay, I do not know,” the part-owner said.

“He doesn’t like hard tracks and it was a little softer on Tuesday at Rocky (the track was rated as a Soft 5).

“Rocky has the big, long straight whereas Mackay’s is only half as long.

“Mackay might just suit his style of racing, but I really don’t know the specific reason why he hadn’t won at Rockhampton before this time.

“He seems to have a good zip in him for 200 metres at Rocky previously and then something would get him.”

Ross is a big believer that his galloper is a 1100 metre specialist.

The 1000 metres is a little too sharp for him while when he steps out to 1200 metres, he often can get rolled late in the piece.

The vast majority of his triumphs have been at 1100 metres while he has won at 1050 and 1200 metres.

He ticked the ‘Rocky’ box on Tuesday in an Open Handicap over his pet trip with apprentice Amy Graham doing the steering.

“He always puts in,” Ross said.

“Even when he gets beaten, there is always something like a bad barrier. He is only a little horse, as well, he doesn’t like carrying those big weights either.

“He races a lot better with 54kg on his back and he had the claim of Amy’s on Tuesday. She is a pretty good jockey and she did a great job for us.”

Tuesday's win was Captain Fox's first since September of last year. 

Ross and his brothers are busy on their farm and couldn’t get to the track on Tuesday, but the Daniels’ are usually regulars whenever their galloper is starting.

The Daniels clan have had several horses with the Fleming barn over the years.