Former jockey Michael Grantham says the R.J. Peters Stakes (1500m) looms as the next option for his Northam Cup hero Kaptain Kaos as he plots a path to the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m).
Just being in conversation for the Railway Stakes is mind blowing for Grantham, a harness trainer and reinsman, who in his second season of thoroughbred training, is making an impression.
A shot at the Railway Stakes became clearer for Grantham after the progressive four-year-old flew home from the back of the field to defeat Luke’s Gold by one length in the Northam Cup (1600m).
Kaptain Kaos won his fourth race from his past five starts and importantly rebounded after finishing third to Kissonallforcheeks at Ascot two weeks earlier.
The R.J. Peters Stakes is staged one week before the Railway Stakes, but Grantham doesn’t believe the short turnaround will worry or have an impact on his progressive gelding.
“I don’t think so,” Grantham told Tabradio.
“After that Saturday when he ran third, I put him in the paddock on the Tuesday and picked him up on the Friday and he worked Saturday and Sunday.
“So, he had eight days work leading into the Northam Cup.
“If I went to the R.J.Peters and he was competitive in that I would just get down the beach with him and keep him as fresh as we could.
“He’s not showing any signs of peaking on runs or saying that he’s had enough.
“It (R.J.Peters) could be an option, yeah.”
Kaptain Kaos launched his career in Bunbury last November and ran third to City Centre when under the guidance of Trevor Roche.
Since entering Grantham’s stable, the son of Demerit has flourished with seven wins and two placings from nine starts.
Despite the rapid progression he has shown in the past 12-months, Grantham said he won’t be rushed in mapping future plans.
“He is only four, he is only four,” Grantham said.
“There is next year, the year after, you know.
“I understand he’s not going to earn money in the paddock, but I don’t want to burn him either.”