It was an emotional victory at Flemington as 3yo Captivant filly Caddington came from near the tail to win the $200,000 Listed MVRC Crockett Stakes (1200m) for Liam Howley with the winner racing in honour of Nicole Strang, who tragically lost her battle against breast cancer in July last year.
Breaking her maiden in impressive fashion last time out at just her second start, the Billy Egan ridden 3yo had her supporters, jumping away well from the middle of the line before settling with just two behind her in the ten-horse field.
A winner of her last two starts and subsequently sent off as the favourite, Ciaron Maher’s Angel Fury went forward from the inside barrier where she settled in the lead with the Chad Schofield-ridden Superbec tracking along in second while the baldy-faced Aroused was wide in third.
$5.6m Inglis Chairman’s purchase Chayan, who is yet to win since her debut success in the G2 Resiling Stakes, settled just off the leaders, getting a good trail into the race.
Passing the 300m mark, jockey Ethan Brown asked the favourite for an effort, and while she did respond, it was short lived as Aroused took the lead from her, only to be swamped late by Caddington who came down the outside to the surprise of many.
Working home well into third suggesting she is working back into form was Chayan, with Robbie Griffiths’ 40/1 chance Nishioka finishing an encouraging fourth.
With the filly raced by various Team Strang syndicates, the tears flowed post win, especially for Howley’s General Manager Adin Strang, the husband of Nicole.
“There’s been no more important wins than this one,” said Howley.
“It’s all about the team and Adin’s our most important team member; he runs the show. I was lucky enough to sit with him through the last few years of Nicole’s journey. To be able to give them something to smile about like this, it means the world.”
“The filly has done a super job. If every you wanted one to be talented… I looked at her every day of the week hoping that she’d turn out to be this good,” Howley said.
“It’s a good story.”
Riding the filly for the first time, Egan was overjoyed to secure a black type victory for connections.
“It was a super effort by the horse and Liam won’t be the only happy one,” said Egan. “There’s a great bunch of owners and it is all for a good cause.”
“Nicole, who went through breast cancer, she was actually looked after in her treatments by a girl I went to school with. Very rapt for the owners and Liam and one of the studs that gave away their 30% as well to look after them.
“She’s well-schooled. She just took it all in her stride. She knows what she’s here to do. She’s here to do business and she gets it done.”
Taking her record to two wins from just three starts with earnings of $150,250, the filly was passed in shy of her $100,000 reserve when offered through the draft of Kia Ora Stud at the Inglis Classic yearling sale.
One of three winners, and first at stakes level out of the American imported G2 San Clemente Stakes winning Lonhro mare War Heroine (USA), whose current 2yo Captain Jacka is a full to Caddington, the mare has since foaled a colt by Farnan followed by foaling a filly by Prague earlier this month.
The second stakes winer for G1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Captivant, joining last season’s G2 winner Vantorix, the son of Golden Slipper winner Capitalist is standing at Vinery Stud for a fee of $11,000 (inc. GST).
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