Connections are hoping to see talented colt King Kapa record black-type success in Sydney this spring after turning down Hong Kong interest.
The three-year-old son of Capitalist has joined Joseph Pride’s stable ahead of the spring carnival.
Formerly trained by Toby and Trent Edmonds on the Gold Coast, King Kapa has had the two career starts, bolting in at Grafton on debut before finishing fourth the Group 2 Champagne Classic at Doomben.
Beaten three-lengths behind Rob Heathcote’s exciting Prince Of Boom, King Kapa beat home subsequent Group 2 Sires Produce and Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes winner Tiger Of Malay, who finished a length back in fifth.
The decision to decline Hong Kong offers was an easy one for Strong Bloodstock managing owner Blake Armstrong and connections, several of whom raced his mother Emmalene.
“100% of owners wanted to race on,” Armstrong said.
“The majority of the owners have been dabbling in shares in a few of our horses and had some success along the way, but not to the heights of success we are hoping to see with King Kapa.
“Some of the connections actually raced her mum Emmalene.
“Widest barrier, caught wide when fourth in a Group 2 and the form out of it has been strong.
“Tiger Of Malay won a Group 2 two weeks later and has been going super since then too, so the form out of that looks really, really good.
“It was an easy decision in the end.”
A $50,000 Magic Millions purchase, Covid restrictions and the ability to chase lucrative BOBS bonuses in Sydney was behind King Kapa’s transfer south, however, connections are hoping to see him return to Queensland for the Magic Millions carnival.
“Once we figured out his ability up here, we thought there was extra prize money to be won in Sydney and hoping he can step up to that Group and Listed level,” Armstrong said.
“Showing the ability as a two-year-old in his first preparation, it was a ‘maturity’ based decision and we just wanted to look after him because we knew the future brough bigger goals.
“Main goal is to see him perform well enough to pocket some prizemoney and get his rating up for the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.
“He travelled down to Sydney well, no issues there and as a colt you are worried about how he will behave but he has really seemed to settle as a three-year-old.”