NZB Trifecta in Star Studded Diamond

A warm autumn day at Ellerslie on Saturday featured the running of the Group 1 Diamond Stakes with New Zealand Bloodstock graduates proving the stars of the show to take out the trifecta in the $200,000 race.

Heading the field at the line was the Stephen McKee-trained, and Trevor McKee-owned, Kaaptan (Kaapstad - Fanny Black, by Chem) who recorded his first raceday victory. It came as little surprise however, given his form this season having run four fast finishing placings in very competitive two year old events.

The good looking brown, who would usually be saved for the last run at his competitors, travelled just behind the pace for pilot Craig Grylls who had the gelding travelling on the home turn. The field fanned out wide, but Grylls stuck to the middle of the track with his initiative proving golden in securing the Group 1 victory.

Second over the line was Seven Schillings (O'Reilly) a $50,000 Karaka Festival Sale purchase by David Archer, and in third place was Corsage (Volksraad), a $25,000 Karaka Select Sale purchase by David Ellis.

Kaaptan was purchased at the Karaka Select Sale for $65,000 by Trevor McKee from the draft of Te Mania Thoroughbreds. He is the second Group 1 winning juvenile for ill-fated sire Kaapstad (Sir Tristram), the other being Kaaptive Edition who went on to win the Group 1 STC BMW Stakes, and place second in both the NZ Derby and the AJC Derby.

Kaapstad at Windsor Park Stud

Observers of Kaaptan would agree that this loose walking two-year-old has the physique and pedigree to make into a lovely Derby prospect, being out of a Chem half-sister to Group 1 NZ Derby winner So Casual (Casual Lies). Chem is of course a son of Group 1 English and Irish Derby winner The Minstrel. Kaapstad is yet to sire a Derby winner, but the former McKee galloper Avancer (Kaapstad - Nuance, by Star Way), who now races in Hong Kong as Legend of Colour, is amongst the favoured runners in the HK$16,000,000 (NZ$3,940,000 approx.) Group 1 Mercedes - Benz Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on March 22.

Windsor Park Stud sire Kaapstad's presence in New Zealand is still felt on Premier race days through his contemporary success as a broodmare sire. In this role, he has has already left four Group 1 winning juveniles, three of them winners of the Group 1 juvenile Ellerslie feature, Grout (Gold Brose), Kapiston (Lake Coniston), and Winged Foot (Maroof), as well as Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Sleek Chassis (Flying Spur).

Kaaptan will now be aimed at the Group 1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes at 1400m, a distance that should not worry the gelding at Awapuni on March 28.