Wednesday’s Equiano – King of Speed Hcp (900m) at Sandown was sponsored by Swettenham Stud and, almost by design, the stud’s up-and-coming sire Kaphero struck with his precocious colt Stingray.

Stingray (2c Kaphero – Stings by Fusaichi Pegasus) was on a quick back-up after a maiden victory at Bendigo on February 8.  In his first prep, trainer John Maloney had sent him out for a debut fourth in the LR Debutant Stakes at Caulfield in October.

“He put his head down and hit the line really well,” Moloney said.  “We have had to change a couple of things in his head.  It’s nice to be quick but you have got to get the finish right and that’s what we’re working on.”

Stingray is a homebred for John and Paul Shannon and his dam Stings has been a regular at Swettenham.  She has a yearling colt by Equiano, foaled a filly by Kaphero last August and is back in foal to Host.

Kaphero and Darley shuttler Street Boss are on top of the Victorian second-season sires’ premiership- they have both sired the winners of 12 races to date.

The stakes winning son of Danzero could have an important update in his own family this Saturday when brilliant filly Nayeli runs in the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes.  Her dam is a three-quarter sister to Kaphero.

Kaphero stood for a $6,600 (inc gst) fee at Swettenham last year.