IN his report from the most recent Clonmel meeting, Ryan McElligott reported that it “featured a very promising debut success for Captain Kangaroo (10/1) in the BoyleSports-sponsored bumper over two and a quarter miles. This Mastercraftsman five-year-old, who was once under the care of John Hammond, was ridden by Jody Townend with Patrick Mullins taking the mount on his uncle, Tony’s, Kilcruit.

“Captain Kangaroo came through from the rear to arrive full of running early in the straight and he went on to win nicely from Kilcruit. This Kanga Racing and Brett Graham Syndicate-owned gelding looks a fine prospect for novice hurdles next season and this race does tend to be won a decent sort with Conflated, Castlebawn West and De Rasher Counter among its recent winners”.

What this doesn’t tell you is that Captain Kangaroo is probably one of the most unusually-bred bumper winners, being a son of a four-time Group 1 and classic winning son of Danehill Dancer (Danehill), and out of a dual Group 1 winning daughter of Starcraft (Soviet Star), We Can Say It Now.

Bred by Paul Makin’s Paulyn Limited, Captain Kangaroo is one of four winners now for his dam, the others featuring Sky Kingdom (Montjeu), the Group 3 Prix du Prince d’Orange winner, among them. Another winner is Tranquil Star (Galileo) who failed to reach her reserve when offered for sale by Godolphin a couple of years ago. Her first foal is a yearling filly by Golden Horn (Cape Cross) and last year she was covered by Shamardal (Giant’s Causeway).

Makin, who died last year, raced We Can Say It Now who was one of just three foals from her eight-time winning dam, the New Zealand-bred We Cant’s Say That (Generous). He also raced Starcraft to international success and he derived great pleasure from the brief but successful career of We Can Say Now. She raced just nine times for Group 1 wins in the Levin Classic and the Captain Cook Stakes over a mile, both in New Zealand. She won four times and placed second once.

We Can Say It Now is a full-sister to Wecansay Mak (Starcraft), and while that mare did not possess the racing prowess of her sibling, she won once and is now the dam of Missile Mantra (Smart Missile), a listed winner in Australia who was runner-up last October in the Group 1 Schweppes The 1000 Guineas at Caulfied.

We Can’t Say That was one of four winning progeny, along with dual stakes winner Command Post (Honor Grades), of the Group 2 winner and Group 1 AJC Oaks second Courtalista (Pompeii Court).