Captain’s Pick
The seven-year-old Ocovango gelding Captain’s Pick is based with successful NH trainer Christian Williams in South Wales. He made the breakthrough in a 3m Perth handicap hurdle in July 2024 and is brimming with promise for the future.
A strong and scopey individual, he is out of the Oscar mare Knockieran, who was a useful four-time hurdles winner in Ireland, and she is in turn a half-sister to the dam of Champagne Well, who was second in a trio of Gr.2 novice hurdles.
Ocovango enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in 2022/23, siring the Gr.1 Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle winner Champ Kiely and the Coral Cup winner Langer Dan. He has continued to build his reputation since, with Langer Dan going on to win another Coral Cup and placing at Gr.1 level, and new stars such as Theatre Man, Mr Vango and Pinkerton emerging.
It is also worth noting that Ocovango has a fine record when paired with Oscar mares, the nick having already resulted in useful performers such as My Reprieve and Unanswered Prayers.
Against this backdrop, it is unsurprising that Captain’s Pick displayed real encouragement in two bumper runs in Ireland when based with Pat Doyle, a trainer renowned for having shaped the early careers of future superstars such as Bob Olinger, Appreciate It, First Lieutenant and Shattered Love, to name a few. He was able to mix it with smart sorts such as Will Do and Answer To Kayf, and looked like a high-level prospect when landing in Britain.
Captain’s Pick joined the yard of Christian Williams shortly after finishing second at Kilbeggan in June 2023 and had one more run in a bumper at Worcester before being sent over hurdles. Despite needing some time off after his first hurdles start, he displayed promise in a handful of runs in the spring of 2024 before winning a 3m handicap hurdle at Perth by half a length under Jack Tudor on the 4th of July.
Clearly relishing the step up to 3m and the application of a first-time tongue-tie, Captain’s Pick displayed a tenacious attitude to get off the mark and looked every inch a staying chaser of the future. He has been lightly-raced since that win, but we are looking forward to seeing him back on a racecourse. We can’t wait to see what he can achieve in 2025 and beyond.