Kaphero will turn the clock back exactly five years when his first starter Twin Tea Bags debuts in the $250,000 Inglis Banner at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

The Swettenham Stud freshman was a Moonee Valley specialist winning six sprints around Melbourne’s iconic suburban circuit including the Carlton Draught Flying (1000m) on the same day El Segundo won the 2007 Cox Plate.

Kaphero was named Moonee Valley Horse of the Year that season after graduating to a G3 victory in the MVRC Ian McEwen Stakes.  He was bred at Swettenham Stud and retired to cover a quality book of mares in his first season at the Nagambie nursery.

Twin Tea Bags (2c Kaphero – Zafia by Zabeel) is prepared by Stephen Theodore and he expects the colt to improve on whatever he does on Cox Plate day.  “It hasn’t been an ideal preparation for the Inglis Banner,” the Cranbourne trainer explained.  “There was a delay with his registration and that meant I had to give him an 800 metre trial on Tuesday to get his barrier ticket.

“That knocked the wind out of our sails but he looks a nice type going forward,” Theodore predicted.  “He only cost $28,000 at the Inglis Melbourne yearling sale and I’m sure that will turn out to be money well spent.”

Twin Tea Bags was bred by Little Plains Stud owner Barb Ivill and he is a younger half-brother to Princess Obey (Commands) who has won three races up to 1550m and Junior Soprano (Elvstroem), a four-time winner stretching out to 2100m.

Theodore is confident Kaphero will make the grade as a sire.  He has a Kaphero filly waiting in the wings for a race during the Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington.

Besides his Moonee Valley wins, Kaphero was also successful in the LR Blue Diamond Preview at Sandown and the Adelaide Magic Millions at Morphettville.

Kaphero is bred to sire precocious types representing the Danehill sireline through 1994 Golden Slipper winner Danzero.  His dam Kapchat was a G1 winner of the STC Coolmore Classic at Rosehill and his second dam is a half-sister to the dam of 1989 Golden Slipper winner Courtza.

Kaphero is standing for a $5,000 (inc gst) service fee.  For further information, breeders should contact Swettenham nominations manager Chris Belli on 0417 514 552 or Swettenham owner Adam Sangster on 0418 543 633.

– Karl Patterson

TWIN TEA BAGS
pictured prior to the 2012 Inglis Melbourne yearling sale