KAPHERO, one of the young sires in the powerful team that Adam Sangster has assembled at Swettenham, the stud at Nagambie in Victoria he acquired after the death of its founder, his father Robert, in April 2004, has a lot of sentimental value to him.
This talented son of the Danehill Golden Slipper winner Danzero and the Group1 winning Centaine mare Kapchat was from the last crop of foals produced by Swettenham when it was headed by Robert Sangster and the family retained an interest in the colt when he was knocked down to Lakeview Resources Pty Ltd for $340,000 at the Magic Millions yearling sale at the Gold Coast.
Now poised to have first crop yearlings at the Inglis Victorian Premier sale February 27, 28,29, March 1 and Autumn series April 29,30, and also the Magic Millions Adelaide sale March 13,14, the impressive looking bay Kaphero (pictured) went to the races to prove one of the smartest and toughest of the Danzero offspring, winning ten races at sprint distances, nine on Melbourne tracks, and earning $801,045.
He was a brilliant prominent 2-year-old who trained on to be a creditable Group1 performer as an older runner. His five outings at two included three wins,1000m each at Flemington and Sandown (the Blue Diamond Preview-LR in 0:55.82) at his first two appearances, and the SAJC Magic Millions Adelaide 2YO Classic – romped away to win by four lengths.
At one stage as an older performer, Kaphero strung together five successive wins, all as favourite, in Melbourne, including the MVRC McEwan Stakes-Gr.3, from April 28 to August 23, 2008.They were followed in his next two outings by a half length third of 14 as favourite in the Manikato-Gr.1 at Moonee Valley and then a fifth in the Schillaci-Gr.2 at Caulfield.
Kaphero's toughness was not surprising as his immediate genes on both sides are dominant for this quality. Paternally, he is one 20 offspring to date by Danzero who each have won ten or more races, the others including Group1 sprinter-miler Niconero (13 wins) and Sydney juvenile triple crown winner Dance Hero (10).
Out of a mare by Star Kingdom's son Kaoru Star, a sire of 30 winners of ten-plus races, this representative of Danehill's first crop has had to date from his Australian use 507 winners (35 SWs) of 1540 races (85 stakes) and $55million. He has also had winners in the northern hemisphere from two visits to England early in his stud career,
Danzero was bred by the John Messara established Arrowfield stud, the one in the Hunter Valley that introduced Danehill to Australia. Danzero stood at Arrowfield until transferred to Rosemont stud near Geelong, Victoria last year.
On the maternal sides Kaphero has a very strong pedigree, one predominantly brilliant. He is a brother to a stakes winner and two stakes placed runners, all from Kapchat, a winner of six races to 1500m, including the STC Winfield Classic-Gr.1 and MVRC Laurent Perrier Stakes-Gr.2, and runner up in the Caulfield Thousand Guneas-Gr.1.
Kapchat was by outstanding New Zealand broodmare sire Centaine (by Century) and from multiple stakes placed Kapelle Lady, a half-sister to noted matriarch Hunza. Hunza's eight winners included Our Pompeii (won Adelaide Cup twice, Sandown Cup, South Australian Derby) and champion juvenile filly Courtza (won both the Golden Slipper and Blue Diamond). One of Courtza's sons, O'Reilly, won two Group1s and is one of New Zealand's leading sires.
Kaphero has some strongly bred youngsters among seven in the Melbourne Premier catalogue.The first one booked to appear in the ring, lot 385 on account of Swettenham, is from Anna Dana, an American mare by the Mr. Prospector Group1 winner Chester House and from a Danzig half-sister to Street Cry, the Dubai World Cup winner who has sired Zenyatta (13 Group1 wins), Street Sense (Kentucky Derby), Whobegotyou (Caulfield Guineas) and Shocking Melbourne Cup).
An August 2 dropped Kaphero filly being offered through Basinghall Farm, Nagambie, could have good appeal. It is inbred 3x3 to Danehill, being from Miss Londolozi, a daughter of World Horse of the Year Rock of Gibraltar, an Ireland bred son of Danehill. Himself represented by 23 lots in the Melbourne Premier catalogue, Coolmore's Rock of Gibraltar has had Group1 winners in Australia, England, France, America and Hong Kong. - Brian Russell Media