Son of Cape Cross eases to his first Group win

Cape Cross colt Karpino, winner of his sole start at two, looked to be a smart performer in the making as he recorded a facile win in the G3 Dr Busch-Memorial at Krefeld on his three-year-old debut.

Settled towards the rear of the field under Andrea Atzeni, Karpino was asked to quicken once entering the home straight and accelerating impressively, soon moved to the lead and ran on superbly to score by two and a half lengths from Ajalo (King's Best), with the third-placed horse some seven lengths further adrift.

This is the race that Shamardal’s consistent son Amaron won back in 2012, before going on to win the G1 Premio Vittorio di Capua.

Bred by Gestut Fahrhof, Karpino is out of the Stakes-placed Sadler’s Wells mare Kahara, a full-sister to G1 St Leger winner and Breeders’ Cup Turf runner-up Milan.

Cape Cross, sire of ten G1 winners to date including the incomparable Ouija Board and Sea The Stars (who themselves both produced Classic winners last year), is also sire this year of fellow unbeaten Stakes winner Golden Horn – who holds an entry in next month’s Dante Stakes. 

Cape Cross stands at Kildangan Stud at a fee of €20,000 October 1st SLF.