It’s just a matter of time before Cam Hart gives the U.S. a go

by Adam Hamilton

North America will have to wait a bit longer to see Australian driving sensation Cam Hart try to follow in the footsteps of other Down Under superstars like Dexter Dunn and Todd and Andy McCarthy.

Hart revealed he was “so close” to moving to the U.S. a couple of years back but then along came champion stayer Swayzee.

And now with Swayzee in the twilight of his career, Hart has teamed with wonder mare Captains Mistress.

“It’s hard to go anywhere when you’ve got those two to drive in the big races,” he said.

“I was very close to going to the U.S. 18 months to two years ago, I gave it very serious thought. But Swayzee started doing his thing and I had too much to focus on and be excited about here.

“I haven’t really had to think too seriously about it again because Captains Mistress has come along, too.”

But Hart stressed it is just a matter of time before he tries his luck in the U.S.

“Oh, I’ll definitely give it a go one day,” he said. “I’ll regret it too much if I don’t.

“It’s the competitor in me. I’ve got to give it a go on the biggest stage and see where I weigh up against the world’s best. But I’m still young, I’m just 27, and if it doesn’t happen until I’m in my early 30s or even a bit later, then I’m not fussed.”

Hart’s CV is damn impressive.

In his decade of driving, Hart’s won over 1,600 races and those drives have banked almost $25 million.

It’s the quality of wins, largely built around his phenomenal association with powerhouse trainer Jason Grimson, which is most impressive.

Hart’s feature race resume would be the envy of most top drivers double his age.

He’s won two Inter Dominion pacing finals (I Cast No Shadow in 2022 and Captains Mistress this year), two New Zealand Cups (Swayzee in 2023 and ’24), two Hunter Cups (Swayzee in 2025 and ’26), a Victoria Cup (Swayzee in 2024), two Blacks A Fakes (Majestic Cruiser 2022 and Swayzee 2023), a Nullarbor (Betterzippit in 2023), and last year’s Eureka with Bay Of Biscay.

That’s a remarkable body of work in less than five years since the first of those mega wins.

And there is no sign of it stopping.

As great as Swayzee has been for Hart, Captains Mistress looks next level for sheer talent, brilliance, and excitement.

Yes, she had luck go her way to beat the great Leap To Fame in that epic Brisbane Inter Dominion final on July 18, but the simple fact she was just a 4-year-old mare and able to do it was mind-blowing.

“It is real pinch yourself stuff to go from Swayzee and then to have this mare come along,” Hart said. “She’s a freak.

“As long as I drive Down Under, Swayzee will hold a very special place. What he’s done for myself and Jason is incredible.

“I won’t drive another horse with a CV like his, at least not Down Under.

“A few years back it felt like he was my once-in-a-lifetime horse, then along comes this mare.

“Apart from their talent, you couldn’t get too more different horses, either.

“With Swayzee, you have to turn the races into a real slog. It feels like such hard work, but that’s what he thrives on and how he beats other great horses, like Leap To Fame.

“But it’s totally different with Captains Mistress. She feels like an A380 [plane] with her speed and power. You feel like you could put any horse, including Leap To Fame, away when you ask her to go.”

For all of the massive wins and moments Hart has shared with Swayzee, he rates Captains Mistress’ win over Leap To Fame as his greatest moment yet.

“It’s hard to compare them or split them,” he said. “But the build-up to that final in Brisbane a few months back was just so enormous.

“That made it super special and probably my biggest win of all.

“But then I think back to Hunter Cups when Swayzee and Leap To Fame went head-to-head from so far out and how special it was to be part of that, let alone win them both. They were great moments.”

Captains Mistress returned from a break with her first run since that Inter Dominion win and cruised to victory at Menangle last Saturday night.

She has raced 14 times from Grimson — all this year — for 13 wins, including five at Group 1 level.

The daughter of Captaintreacherous will chase more Group 1 glory in the Victoria Cup at Melton on Saturday (Oct. 17).

Swayzee, despite being a rising 9-year-old, isn’t finished yet and Hart still holds hope of sharing another mega win with him in the New Zealand Cup in November.

The old man will have to earn his way back across the ditch for the right to chase history at Addington on Nov. 10.

Swayzee would be trying to become just the fourth horse to win three New Zealand Cups.

The signs were encouraging when he returned from almost six months out with a close-up fourth in last Saturday night’s Geelong Cup when driven by Grimson himself because Hart was in Sydney with Captains Mistress.

“He’s going to have to keep improving over the next few weeks and show he’s up to having another go at it, but the early signs are good,” Hart said.

“If he goes, I’ll be driving him. He’s just made for a two-mile (3,200 meter) standing start staying race like that and like loving nothing more to have one more go at winning it again with him.”