Captain Eagle set to soar at Kilcoy

By Glenn Davis

The father-and-son training partnership of Peter and Will Hulbert hope to soar high with Captain Eagle at Kilcoy on Wednesday.

'Team Hulbert' was one of the first training partnerships to start off in Queensland a decade ago and the pair has enjoyed considerable success together.

Captain Eagle was also nominated for Doomben on Wednesday but the Hulberts plan to head to Kilcoy.

“We'll accept in both places but Kilcoy looks a lot easier so he’ll start there,” co-trainer Will Hulbert said. 

The five-year-old gelding only joined the Hulbert stable in September after starting his career in Sydney with Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou.

He had five barrier trials before finishing second on debut at Kembla Grange in June of last year.

However, after two more defeats he briefly found his way into the Brad Widdup barn who moved him on again after one placing in three starts.

That’s when another father-and-son training partnership of Chris and Corey Munce took over but he lasted only two starts attempting to break his maiden status after finishing third at Beaudesert and fourth at the Sunshine Coast in July.

However, 'Team Hulbert' managed to strike instant pay dirt with Captain Eagle by winning a 1400 metre maiden at Beaudesert in his stable debut in the middle of September.

He then chased all the way for a game second to the Matthew Hoysted-trained Road To Paradise in a 1600 metre Benchmark race at the Sunshine Coast three weeks later.

'Team Hulbert' gambled by running Captain Eagle on a heavy track at his last start when he beat one home in a field of five behind the Robert Heathcote-trained San Gabriel in a 1660 metre Class 1 Handicap at Doomben on October 29.

“His last race wasn’t run to suit as he’s a free rolling type and doesn’t like to sit and sprint,” Will Hulbert said.

“He’s done a good job since we’ve had him and he’s had a win, a second and a fourth in three starts for us.

“He was bought online for $12,000 after his original owners thought he might make it to Hong Kong but didn’t quite measure up.”

Co-trainer Will Hulbert is hopeful Captain Eagle will acquit himself well at his first attempt over the 1900 metre trip.

“He should run the distance, but he’ll need clean air from the 1000 metres at Kilcoy,” Will Hulbert said.

“He does a lot of beach work and swimming with us as he doesn’t have the best feet.”