In a driving three horse finish it was Kincaple, out wide, that finished better than anything to win the Group III, Strickland Stakes (2000m), by a neck over Moonlight Bay with God Has Spoken another neck away in third place.
The win was a triumph for trainer Adam Durrant who has taken over the training of the galloper after it had broken down in the Perth Cup, eighteen months ago.
Kincaple resumed racing on June 15, finishing seventh over 1600m behind Black Tycoon.
Daniel Staeck, who had ridden the horse to victory in the 2011 Kalgoorlie Cup, when the Pentire (GB) sired gelding was trained by Mark Reed, had him ninth position for most of a muddling run race.
Durrant said Kincaple possessed a big motor and that he was confident going into the race despite being mindful of his previous suspensory injury.
“He can be grumpy and has a tendency to move out to the middle of the track in running. He got of the bridle a bit today and bumped at one stage” Durrant said.
The trainer said Kincaple would fit right “into the 2400m Victorian racing scene, or even longer distances,” with stablemate Mr Moet, last year’s Strickland Stakes winner.
Kincaple’s win prevented owner Bob Peters from winning his fourth race for the afternoon-although Shaun O’Donnell, on Moonlight Bay, gave it a great shot.
Durrant is starting to look very good for another metropolitan trainers premiership.
With a month to go he has established a handy break, 49-42.5, over Neville Parnham, and has had the momentum in recent weeks.
In contrast apprentice Chris Parnham is narrowing the gap between himself and Ben Paterson in the apprentices premiership (26-22.5) after he won the second race on a courageous Express Service and then the sixth race on Monumental.
William Pike with a winning double has moved to 62 and will easily win the jockeys premiership from Paul Harvey (47.5).
30.6.13