Corne Spies’ smashing Sail From Seattle colt Captured Wind has earned tags like ‘miracle horse’ and ‘survivor’ that he carries around with his handsome good looks and terrific ability. The Ascot Stud bred 4yo made a winning comeback after a nine month break at the Vaal a fortnight ago and looks set to go in again at the same venue today.
Sail From Seattle colt Captured Wind
Captured Wind squares up to ten opponents in an MR 88 Handicap and apprentice Matthew Thackeray takes the reins again.
“The youngster did nothing wrong when he won on him last time and is full value for his 1,5kg claim. So we’ve kept him on,” said the trainer who is always willing to play open cards when we contact him for comment.
Highly rated as a youngster after winning his first two starts by an aggregate of 8,25 lengths, an overseas bid to purchase the speedy colt was thwarted by his failing the Vet.
Corne Spies – his charge had an ‘issue or two’
“Captured Wind has had an ‘issue or two’ but has loads of ability. He went wrong in the Protea Stakes where he chipped a bone. He still managed to run third though. The vets said he’d likely never run again. But as one does with good horses, we gave him plenty of time off. By a miracle, the bone reattached,” said Corne Spies.
Cracker
He was brought back from his first nine months off and Captured Wind ran a cracker to run a 3,50 length fourth behind Dingaans winner Unparalleled in a sprint.
He was not himself when travelling to Cape Town for the Lanzerac RTR Stakes at the beginning of this year and was rested after failing to produce his best in the Gr3 Tommy Hotspur.
But he bounced backed magnificently when flashing through late to nab the very smart Bad Boy Buddy Boy and beat him a head.
That was a good effort after being slightly slow away, and with plenty of pace in this race, he may be ridden quietly again.
The only cautionary that Spies advised was the second run after a rest bogey.
“Who knows? That gets them sometimes and other times it doesn’t. He is talented and we have bigger things planned for him,” he confirmed.
Mixed Bunch
The rest are a mixed bunch with Victorious and Viking Hero coming down a few rungs in class and looking most likely to pick up the scraps if Captured Win fails to produce the biscuits.
Viking Hero particularly ran well when only 2,50 lengths adrift of Saturday’s Gr2 Merchants top dogs Brutal Force and Trip To Heaven.
With Striker up, he must go into the bigger perms.
