Flemington specialist Capriccio primed for upset in Kensington Stakes
Trainer Daniel Bowman fancies the chances of “overlooked” longshot Capriccio in the Listed Kensington Stakes at Flemington.
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Daniel Bowman is spoiling for an upset in the Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m) with Capriccio wound up like a coil for Saturday’s $200,000 feature at Flemington.
Capriccio has drifted from an opening quote of $15 with TAB to $19 – a “generous” price the mare’s haven been more than “happy to take”.
“I don’t think she should be $20 … I think she’s been overlooked, her form is really good compared to some of the others in the market,” Bowman said.
“I know she’s only a 74-rater but half-a-length better in the Creswick she wins that (and) she’s an 85-rater and $8 in this field.
“Her straight form is exceptional, she just loves it like her mother (Lonhspresso).”
Lonhspresso won the Straight Six in 2014.
The Kensington Stakes has been a six-month quest for Bowman and connections after Capriccio finished a luckless third in the Listed Creswick Stakes in June.
The start prior – the Listed Straight Six – the filly surged into sixth, beaten just over two lengths against older horses.
Capriccio stamped her then three-year-old credentials last February, with a $300,000 windfall winning the lucrative Inglis Dash, charging over the top of Bella Nipotina.
The Flemington certainly draws the best out of Capriccio.
“Early days she wasn’t strong enough to absorb the pressure around a bend and quicken, whereas down the straight she just coils up like a spring and explodes,” Bowman said.
“Now she’s stronger I think she’ll be OK around the bend but she’s still going to be as effective down the straight, if not more effective.
“Always been very athletic and strong, it just took a while for her frame to carry her muscle … but she’s a ball of muscle now. I’m pretty happy with the condition she’s going to the races in.”
Despite the long wait for the Kensington, Capriccio is likely to only have one more run — the Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on January 1 – before a winter campaign.
“She’ll have a light summer … we’ll determine how she goes in those (Kensington and Standish) whether she has a third run,” Bowman said.
The Group 1 TAB Classic (1200m) — Robert Sangster Stakes — in May at Morphettville is one option next year.
“She’s not good enough for (the Melbourne autumn Group 1 sprints), I’ve got a fair hold on the ability of my animals,” Bowman said.
“She’s a good Listed, Group 3 horse, a race like the Sangster (TAB Classic), against her own sex, you never know, you got to have a crack.”
Any black-type victory — to go with the auction-house restricted sprint already won — would make I Am Invincible mare Capriccio, out of a stakes-winning Lonhro mare, a very valuable broodmare proposition.
“She’s been targeted for this (Kensington), she’s definitely ready to go like she was for the Inglis Dash,” Bowman said.
“They always say horses for courses at Flemington down the straight. Don’t they? They either like it or they don’t, when you’ve got one that likes it you can have a lot of fun.”
Originally published as Flemington specialist Capriccio primed for upset in Kensington Stakes
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