Cape Kidnappers has been plagued by injuries throughout his racing career to date, but Kelly Schweida believes that the legs of the talented sprinter may be the best they have been for a number of years heading into the 2014 George Moore Stakes at Doomben on Saturday.
Cape Kidnappers will return to racing in the 2014 George Moore Stakes at Doomben this weekend. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Cape Kidnappers started his winter preparation with a seventh place finish in the Listed Bribie Handicap (1110m) at Doomben on May 10 before he returned to winning form in both the Listed Chief De Beers Quality (1110m) at the same venue on May 24 and the Listed Lightning Handicap (1000m) at Eagle Farm on June 7, but was found to be lame after finishing a close second behind Big Money in the Group 3 Healy Stakes (1200m) on June 21.
Schweida admits that it has been a frustrating proposition with Cape Kidnappers throughout his racing career, but he told Sky Racing HQ that the Commands gelding has held up well physically ahead of his return to racing in the Group 3 George Moore Stakes (1200m) tomorrow.
“His legs are the best that they have ever been,” Schweida said.
“He has been coming along quite well and he has had two jump outs.
“They were good for him; he never really overexerts himself and he is a pretty laid back sort of fellow, but they were good for him.
“The most runs we sort of get is three and we stretched it last time to four and that was probably a mistake.
“We have looked after him pretty well and he is a good horse and a lovely natured horse.”
While Schweida is happy with the physical condition of Cape Kidnappers, he is far less than impressed with the alley that the seven-year-old will jump from in the George Moore Stakes this weekend.
Schweida said that he would like to see Cape Kidnappers sitting just the behind the expected leaders like Adebisi and Rocky King, but is far from confident that jockey Damian Browne will be able to settle the lightly-raced gelding close to the rail in the early stages of the race.
“It is a quiet fast race and there is no room for error,” Schweida said.
“If we had a good gate we would be running just behind those ones, but not many of the jockeys are very nice to you and if they can keep you wide they will.
“If you could tell me I would be one off I would say that he would be pretty hard to beat.”
Cape Kidnappers is currently available at 2014 George Moore Stakes odds of $4.20 and is a narrow favourite from Big Money ($4.40), Someday ($6.50) and Time To Plunder ($9).
