Captain Fearless sets sights on Southern Cross
Captain Fearless indicated he would be a key in the upcoming Southern Cross Series with an excellent victory at Glober Derby Park on Saturday.
Trained by Jill Neilson and Katie Wilson, Captain Fearless ($3.50) unleashed a brilliant final 400 metres to score a five-metre win in the Bianco Reinforcing Pace (1800m).
Trainer-driver Darren Billinger found the front on Twin Connection ($2.50 into $2 fav) from barrier two and rated his six-year-old perfectly, but he had no answer to the outstanding sprint of the winner.
Trainer Jill Neilson said Captain Fearless had been set for the three-year-old colts & geldings’ area of the Southern Cross Series.
“He proved tonight he is a good sit-sprinter,” Neilson said.
“Wayne (Hill) drove him beautifully settling one-out, one-back before asking him to sprint and he was awesome.
“Captain Fearless has now won four of his 12 starts and hopefully can be competitive in the Southern Cross.
“It would be a good reward for his owner-breeder Geoff Easom from Wyndown Stud who breeds and races so many horses each year.”
The win was also a reward for the trainers who have suffered major disappointment with their star Reoffender which was SA’s Two-Year-Old Trotter of the year in 2024.
A winner of six of his seven starts in 2024, the gelding was expected to prove a star in 2025, but the reality is he won’t see a racetrack.
Neilson explained it had been one problem after another for Reoffender.
“When he brought him back earlier in the year we found he had an issue with a knee which was fixed.
“Then next time in work he was nearly ready to race, and he was found to have ulcers, a problem which also halted another of trotters Bishop George.
“We brought him back for the Southern Cross, and now we have discovered he has a disease in his suspensories so he will head back to the paddock and hopefully we can get him back next year.”
Two Wells trainer Ryan Hryhorec continued his superb run of form with four victors giving him nine winners from the last 20 metropolitan races at Globe Derby Park.
Hryhorec’s first winner, Sunstar, in the Ray White Commercial Adelaide Pace (1800m) was very significant for driver Gaita Pullicino.
It was the 1000th career winning drive for Pullicino, 70, who said she just loves driving.
In a second coming after relocating to South Australia, the diminutive powerhouse has consistently figured in the top 10 of SA reinspersons.
After 44 winners in 2019/20, Pullicino has had seasons of 70,59,78 and 71 winners and currently in 2025 reached 51 with a double on Saturday.
“It is a really good milestone,” Pullicino said.
“It has taken a while because unfortunately I spent too long on the sidelines, but I have loved the opportunity to Iive and drive in South Australia.
“I have had some really good wins and drive some fantastic horses since coming here.”
Pullicino won an SA Oaks on Encipher, SA Trotters Cup on Phoebe Onyx, two Golden Nursery Stakes on Jawsoflincoln and Lambo Mach, two SA Sires Produce Stakes on Jawsoflincoln and Justanextragrand and an SA Derby on Jawsoflincoln.
It was a vintage drive by Pullicino on Sunstar ($5) making full use of gate one to lead, set a nice tempo then sprint away for a two-metre win from Delightfull Tammy ($9) with the winner’s stablemate Lord Zarias ($3), six metres away third.
Hryhorec said the race was “made to order” for Sunstar.
“He was able to lead, and the shorter distance ideal,” Hryhorec said.
“He is engaged on Monday with a claiming price of $10,000 so he might be leaving the stable.”
Hryhorec’s second winner was the well-bred Ten Eagles in the Hygain Trotters Mobile (2230m).
The three-year-old is the first foal of the former good racemare Ten Spanners which spent time in the Hryhorec stable.
Ten Eagles ($4.80) led throughout to win by two metres from Feel The Moment ($2.80 fav) with Countess Crusoe ($7), 11 metres away third.
It was the gelding’s first win at his fourth start.
“He is still immature, but I believe in 12 months he will be a more than handy trotter,” Hryhorec said.
His treble came up with Phoebe Onyx, driven by Pullicino, coming off a 20-metre handicap to win the Bargain Steel Centre Trotters Handicap (2230m).
Pullicino had the nine-year-old, a $6 chance, away brilliantly to charge forward and find the lead and he went on to score by nine metres from stablemate Ebonys Avenger ($1.75 fav) with My Used To Be ($6.50), a metre away third.
Hryhorec’s fourth win came with Peace Of Heaven, a former New South Wales pacer, having his first start for the stable.
Coming wide over the last lap for driver Danielle Hill, Peace Of Heaven ($2.50 fav) scored by 2-1/2 metres from Butter Cup ($3.20) with Magnetize ($6.50) a metre away third.
Harness enthusiasts can expect to hear more of young Daniel Clancy over the coming years.
Clancy is working for trainer Reece Moore and shortly hopes to join the SA driving ranks.
At present, he is a winning owner having Amys Baby Angel win for him in the Hahn Super Dry Pace (2230m).
He paid $4500 for Amys Baby Angel and the six-year-old has already collected about $9000 in stakes.
On Saturday, Amys Baby Angel ($1.70 fav) drew clear to win by five metres from Clarenden Vintage ($26) with Rocknroll Raider ($7), a short half head away third.
- Story Graham Fischer
- Photo Walter Bulyga