Talented sprinter Cape Kidnappers is set to make a long-awaited debut at Group level after being included in the nominations for the 2014 W.J. Healy Stakes that will be run at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Cape Kidnappers will be chasing his maiden win at Group level in the 2014 W.J. Healy Stakes at Eagle Farm this weekend. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Cape Kidnappers has always shown the ability to compete at the highest level of racing, but he has been plagued by injuries throughout his career and restricted to just 13 race starts since making his debut in 2011.
The Commands gelding started his campaign with the worst performance of his career in the Listed Bribie Handicap (1110m) at Doomben on May 10, but returned to winning form in the Listed Chief De Beers Quality (1110m) at Doomben on May 24 before scoring a narrow victory in the Listed Lightning Handicap (1000m) at Eagle Farm on June 7.
Cape Kidnappers will be stepping up to 1200 metres for just the second time in his racing career, but trainer Kelly Schweida said after his win in the Lightning Handicap that the six-year-old was looking for the step-up in trip.
“He has done no work at all, he has just been swimming, and were trying to keep his legs a bit fresh because we were worried that he was starting to get a bit fitter and looking for the 1200,” Schweida said.
“I am very proud of him and I think that he was going to win a long way from home, even though the second horse was a good run.
“We love him and I just hope that he pulls up good.
“He will definitely run in the Healy if he pulls up good and something like the Ramornie could be a possibility.”
Cape Kidnappers will take on a similar group of rivals in the Healy Stakes as he did in the Lightning Handicap; with Adebisi, Big Money, Rocky King, Metallurgical, Seeking More, Facile Tigre, Howmuchdoyouloveme and Adebisi all set to back-up in the Group 3 event.
One potential Healy Stakes runner taking a different formline into the race is classy mare Bennetta, who performed fairly at Group 1 level in the All Aged Stakes (1400m) during the 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.
Bennetta finished third behind Sacred Star and Masthead in the Group 2 QTC Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on May 31 and is chasing his first win since she took out the 2013 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens.
