Last year local trainer Greg Bennett saw Kaypers run third in the Scone Cup. This year the popular trainer hopes the horse can set the record straight and become the first locally-trained winner for many years.
Kaypers goers into the $200,000 Scone Cup (1600m) on the back of a strong last start win in Saturday company at Randwick and with the in form Christian Reith to ride him.
“The horse is a year older and stronger, he has been holding his form really well and is back on his home track,” Bennett said.
“It would be great for the town if a locally trained horse can win the cup.
“A lot of Scone people have been following Kaypers when he has been racing in Sydney and now they get the chance to see him racing, at home, in a high quality race.”
Last year Kaypers finished third to the Melbourne trained Speediness, which ironically was stabled with Bennett.
Kaypers has only had nine starts since last year’s third as Bennett has carefully planned a program to have the horse at his peak for this race.
In five starts this preparation he has been placed twice at Rosehill, ran fourth to Cup rival Mecir in the Newcastle Newmarket beaten half a length, sixth in the Doncaster Prelude then at his last start won over 1400m at Randwick on April 26.
Christian Reith rode him in three of those runs including his win and after that race Bennett discussed with the jockey his plan to tackle the Scone Cup again.
“I know he has only won the one race this preparation but that is a reflection o f the quality of the horses he has been racing against,” Bennett said.
“They said that last year’s cup was the strongest ever. I don‘t think this year is harder.”
Bennett will also run the ultra consistent Belannnoro (Blake Shinn) and Oh My Papa (Kathy O’Hara) in Friday’s Country Cup while he will have on runner on Saturday – Pompidou in the Segenhoe Stud Benchmark 75.
He did accept with Oh My Papa in the Coolmore Dark Jewel on Saturday but has scratched her.
“The Country Cup looks a much more suitable race for her,” Bennett said.
Fellow Scone trainer Paul Messara is relying on Rowie (Yusuke Ichikawa) in the Scone Cup.
The horse ran well when a first up third in mid week company on the Kensington track then dislodged Ichikawa, when he stumbled at the start in a Benchmark 80 at Hawkesbury.
Rowie is one of eight runners for Messara on Friday.
