CAPTAINRISK turned over the odds-on favourite at Wolverhampton on Feb 20 to lift Marco Botti to a very healthy 25 per cent strike-rate for 2009.
The Captain Rio colt became the trainer’s fifth winner of the year from just 20 runners as Green Ridge Stables’ bright start to the year continued. Captainrisk’s maiden success came in a 7f handicap on what was his sixth career start. Owned by Giuliano Manfredini, Botti’s charge was sent off an 11/2 shot with Mark Johnston’s Tartan Gunna extremely short at 2/9.
The favourite led early on from his pursuer Captainrisk, who asserted to lead under jockey Jerry O’Dwyer approaching the furlong pole.
As Tartan Gunna wilted, the only other runner in the field Grand Honour became the danger but Captainrisk held on by a neck. It was a deserved win for the bay, who’d made the frame in four of his five previous runs. |