Written by Bruce Stewart
The gorgeous record-breaking win by Captains Mistress (Captaintreacherous) in Saturday’s 2026 Racing and Sports activities The Rising Solar, has been a number of years within the making.
The 4 12 months outdated mare was bred by Todd and Fleur Anderson of Taffy Restricted and bought as a weanling by Mick Boots.
“It depends upon what they’re, however you should be getting paid affordable cash to warrant promoting them early,” mentioned Anderson.
Southland coach Nathan Williamson was additionally concerned within the course of.
“Peter Lagan (Bloodstock agent) discovered her. He checked out her and determined to ask Mick if he needed to buy her as a weanling. I flew up (to Laura Smiths) and went to take a look at her. She was excellent and I mentioned to Mick ‘be sure you purchase her’ and he did. He additionally purchased Utah Jazz on the identical time. Mick’s thought was to purchase some actually properly bred fillies to race in our function races and in the event that they had been as much as it, to breed from them just a little afterward,” he mentioned.
Captains Mistress successful a Winton Exercise (Bruce Stewart – Picture)
Williamson certified Captains Mistress at Winton as a two 12 months outdated in February 2024 working a mile in 1-58.4.
“I rang Mick that evening and mentioned ‘I believe we’ve obtained a famous person horse.’ She ran an exceptional final 400 that day.”
CAPTAINS MISTRESS QUALIFY TRIAL – REPLAY
Captains Mistress (exterior) qualifying at Winton (Bruce Stewart – Picture)
On debut the next month, she completed second to Music Mistress at Ascot Park earlier than successful her subsequent begin within the G3 Entain Two Yr Outdated Fillies Cell Tempo at Winton.
Captains Mistress sporting her successful garland after her G3 win at Winton (Bruce Stewart – Picture)
“She used to take a look at issues on the monitor and shy just a little bit, however by no means to the purpose of being an actual downside. She was simply phenomenally quick and properly gaited.”
Captains Mistress received eight of her eighteen begins for Williamson and her win within the Dunstan Sires’ Stakes Collection Fillies Championship was Williamson’s first Group One win as a coach.
Captains Mistress offering Nathan Williamson along with his first Group One win as a coach (Race Pictures – Picture)
Captains Mistress after her G1 win at Addington with Mick Boots holding the trophy (Race Pictures – Picture)
Captains Mistress after her G1 win at Addington (Race Pictures Picture)
After successful the Group One Magness Benrow New Zealand Sires’ Stakes Three Yr Outdated Fillies Ultimate at Alexandra Park in Could final 12 months, she launched into a 4 race Australian marketing campaign underneath the care of Grant Dixon.
Captains Mistress successful the NZ Sires’ Stakes Three Yr Outdated Fillies Ultimate (HRNZ -Picture)
She received three of these races earlier than she got here dwelling to focus on the primary three 12 months outdated races in spring.
“When she got here again from Queensland final 12 months we had quite a few issues by the spring and the preparation was a little bit of a nightmare. Mick understood and by no means put stress on me to line her up when she wasn’t at her peak.”
She had her final race for Williamson at Alexandra Park in December final 12 months, when simply earlier than the ending put up, the seat on the sulky indifferent tossing Williamson on the monitor. He was unconscious, hospitalised and out of racing for 3 months.
“It was disappointing with what occurred as a result of it might have been a terrific word for her to complete on. She was Two Yr Outdated of the Yr, but it surely was an actual disgrace she wasn’t Three Yr Outdated of the Yr. I believe she would have been, with out me having the hiccup. She was at all times most likely destined to move over there. I used to be rapt to be related together with her for so long as I used to be. Clearly a terrifically gifted horse and she or he’s simply obtained higher and higher since she’s been in Jason’s care. I’m proud to say that we at all times taken care of her rather well.”
Captains Mistress within the Williamson barn (Picture – Equipped)
Since being in Australia and educated by Jason Grimson, Captains Mistress has received ten of her eleven begins together with 4 Group Ones. And he or she’s banked $655,450 for Boots.
Eight of Captains Mistress’s Australian wins have been over a mile.
“She has tailored to the mile racing. She’s clearly brilliantly quick however Jason has completed a sterling job together with her. He’s had her at fever pitch each time.”
Williamson says having races accessible for Captains Mistress week in week out additionally helps put together the fashionable mare for her function race calendar.
“With the Australian system you’ll be able to race them much more, whereas we wrestle to get racing for our horses. I discovered we battled with that all through her three 12 months outdated marketing campaign. She got here again with such a excessive ranking she couldn’t race except it was in a few of these Nation Cups races and it at all times took her a number of runs to get there.”
All through her three 12 months outdated season Boots had some substantial affords for the mare.
“There have been some big affords for her spherical that three 12 months outdated time. He determined to hold onto her and it’s been properly justified,” mentioned Williamson.
When requested what time Captains Mistress may be able to working sooner or later, Williamson was hesitant.
“She trialled in 1-48 spherical Albion. I’ve by no means been to Menangle, however the instances there would say it’s most likely a faster monitor than Albion Park, so subsequently she would possibly go 1-46.”
Her solely miss this season has been working an unfortunate fifth within the Miracle Mile when she didn’t get a transparent run within the straight.
With out fail, Williamson has stayed as much as watch her race.
“I haven’t missed a race but. She’s vastly necessary to me as a result of she was my first actual Options horse and she or he was my first Group One winner. I needed to chuckle watching the protection (The Rising Solar) and so they had been speaking about gate pace. I by no means considered her being crossed if she needed to carry the lead. Most likely the one motive that different horse (Ultimate Deadline) obtained a head on her out of the gate was as a result of she’s most likely not used to being requested to go flat out like she did on Saturday.”
The win on Saturday evening gave Captains Mistress a golden ticket into the $1,000,000 ID26 Pacing Championship Grand Ultimate at Albion Park in a fortnight.
“Saturday evening was one other stamp I suppose, when it comes to stepping ahead in opposition to the boys. The time they ran within the entrance it was fairly sensational, then she cruised to the road. It’s very thrilling and also you at all times want individuals properly that purchase horses off you,” Anderson mentioned.
In successful the Rising Solar, Captains Mistress joins Merlin because the second millionaire pacer out of the Anderson owned mare Imaginary Guess and is the sixth millionaire pacer produced by the Scuse Me household.
Her millionaires at the moment are Christen Me ($2,745,747), Have Religion In Me ($2,000,964), Merlin ($1,838,814), Adore Me ($1,667,029), Dream About Me ($1,375,085) and Captains Mistress ($1,100,877).
“To depart one very nice horse is sensational. To depart two is fairly thrilling. She’s a stunning mare and passes it on to her progeny,” Anderson mentioned.
Outdoors of her millionaires, Imaginary Guess has additionally left Gemma Mac, Durrant, Magician, Religion Not Worry and Captain Of Chaos.
Religion Not Worry was bought by Denis and Mark Dunford on the 2025 NZB Standardbred Yearling Gross sales for $160,000 and he certified earlier this season for Hayden and Amanda Cullen, whereas Captain Of Chaos was offered to Boots on the 2026 Sale for $180,000. Captain Of Chaos has been entrusted to Williamson.
Religion Not Worry as a yearling
Captain Of Chaos as a yearling
“She foaled late, (Imaginary Guess) so we haven’t obtained a foal for this 12 months. However she’s again in foal to Captaintreacherous,” added Anderson.
And he’s hoping for a filly.
“She hasn’t left me one other one (laughter). It’s a tough one as a result of we breed to promote. On the time, we made the choice to promote, (Captains Mistress) however in hindsight it might have been a pleasant one to have stored to race ourselves. However hindsight is an excellent factor. It’s nice for Mick to have a extremely beautiful mare. Jas (coach Jason Grimson) and Cam (driver Cam Hart) have gotten her going properly over there and Mick is having a hell of a experience, which is nice for him.”
Captains Mistress and Nathan Williamson’s successful salute after successful her third race at Ascot Park (Bruce Stewart – Picture)
The Anderson’s purchased into the Scuse Me breed in 2015.
“Again then there weren’t too many individuals with the breed. The late Ian Dobson truly owned Imaginary Guess. He’d purchased her on the yearling gross sales. The one different one (from the breed) that Charlie (Roberts) had put up on the market was Hartofdixie which Ross Hoggard from Rossland Stud purchased. When each these yearlings had been offered, Adore Me had solely received $17,000 I believe.”
Imaginary Guess was unraced and despatched to Dobson’s stallion Christian Cullen, producing Cullen Guess which received as soon as in 9 begins for Benny Hill.
Down the monitor it’s potential Captains Mistress might return to New Zealand to embark on her breeding profession.
“Mick mentioned when he despatched her over there that she would return right here for breeding and that I might put together the foals. Then I obtained injured. Plenty of water has gone underneath the bridge and Jason’s completed an exceptional job together with her. I do know Mick likes the best way horses are nurtured on this nation. I believe Jason deserved a whole lot of the credit score, however I believe Mick deserves the massive credit score in that he’s affected person and capable of wait. He’s like that with all his horses.”
And now that Captains Mistress is working on the Interdominions in a fortnight, are the Andersons tempted to move to Albion Park?
“I’ve had an enormous morning on the farm and sipping on a cup of tea and Fleur is saying she’s simply making an attempt to work out whether or not we will go to the Interdominions (laughter). The timing most likely isn’t going to work for us to be truthful. It’s an enormous step up final evening (Saturday) going in opposition to the boys, but it surely’s one other step up going in opposition to horses like Leap To Fame and The Janitor. Who is aware of. Higher individuals than me will know the appropriate factor to be doing,” Anderson mentioned.
“She’s been phenomenal from day one and I wouldn’t wager in opposition to her beating Larry in a fortnight,” Williamson mentioned.
by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink
