Racing: Kapoor on target for crack at a $1m purse

Kapoor at Taupo in October 2017. Photo / Race Images

Talented filly Kapoor will further her preparation for a crack at a million-dollar purse with an appearance at Rotorua today.

The stakes-performed daughter of Reliable Man will gallop between races with stablemate Gentil Tonton ahead of the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m), in which she will be ridden by Danielle Johnson, at Ellerslie on Saturday week.

"Then it will be on to the Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic and maybe the Lowland Stakes or the Sunline Vase before the Oaks," trainer John Bell said.

Following recent seconds in the Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial (1500m) and in the group two Eight Carat Classic (1600m), Kapoor is an $18 chance in the group one Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m).

Stablemate Gentil Tonton, the winner of the Listed Taumarunui Gold Cup (2200m), is progressing well towards his return to racing.

"We're looking at the open 1600m at Counties, he's coming to hand quite nicely," Bell said.

Meanwhile, he is also hoping for a genuine pace to give Rosso Corsa every chance in today's Rydges Hotel Rotorua 1950m.

"Jonathan Riddell will be riding him and he's won on him before," Bell said. "He's a horse that's got oodles of ability, but he's just quirky and he hears and sees things that aren't there but he's very, very fit."

Rosso Corsa won three runs back at Taupo.

Bell also has Melbourne Born in the closing event, the MacMillan Accountants Maiden (1400m).

"She's very hard to keep condition on, but she's a horse with a lot of talent," he said.

- NZ Racing Desk