Former New Zealand G1 winner Kaaptan won the G2 Macau Spring Trophy (1400m) at Taipa on the weekend.  He defeated stablemate Clown Master (Lonhro) by a half length with Estatic Macau (Delago Brom) another three lengths away in third place.

Kaaptan (NZ) has now won three races from nine starts in Macau for earnings the equivalent of AUD 133,725.  He was also successful in the G3 Macau Guineas Prelude in January.

Kaaptan (4g Kaapstad – Fanny Black by Chem) cost owner Lai Chan Cheong $65,000 from Te Mania Thoroughbreds at the 2008 NZB Select yearling sale.  He was trained by Steven McKee to win the G1 Ford Diamond Stakes at Ellerslie in March 2009 but only registered one more victory before transferring off-shore last year.

Now trained by Joe Lau, Kaaptan is by former Windsor Park sire Kaapstad and is a half brother to six winners including the stakes performers Benedict (O’Reilly) and Venus Was Her Name (Spectacular Love).

Their dam Fanny Black is a half-sister to G1 New Zealand Derby winner So Casual (Casual Lies).  She died in September 2007.  Second dam Some Reason (Sound Reason) was a G3 winner of the Challenge Stakes at Riccarton.

Kaaptan has recovered from knee surgery but is still a day-to-day proposition.  Nevertheless, Lau expects him to be selected in the Macau team for the Hong Kong – Macau Trophy at Sha Tin on March 12.