Don’t count out roughie Kaptain Kaos in 2025 Blue Spec Stakes

Peter Giadresco from Bunbury has taken on a challenging project in veteran galloper Kaptain Kaos.

The Demerit gelding enjoyed his peak form with Michael Grantham, winning the 2021 Listed Northam Cup (1600m) before elevating to Group 3 glory in the Hyperion Stakes (1600m), toppling the highly regarded God Has Chosen.

Following a winless Melbourne campaign, Giadresco purchased him for $40,000. Results didn’t come quickly — 10 starts without a win had retirement on the cards — but a promising third in the Jockey Celebration Day Stakes (1400m) at Pinjarra has offered hope.

That performance, 1.6 lengths from Sensessional, was his best under Giadresco and a sign he could be on the verge of another big run ahead of the Blue Spec Stakes (1600m) at Belmont.

“He was almost headed for retirement but he showed me something last-start,” Giadresco told Racing WA. “He was showing good signs working at home, but wasn’t bringing it to the race track. That last run showed me he is trying again, he ran the fastest last 600m and wasn’t far from the winner. If the race was a bit further who knows what might have happened. We knew the horse used to be able to run and I knew I had him well, but he’s starting to try. He’s not going to be too far away and if he gets up, it won’t be a major shock. I think he’s getting close and it wouldn’t surprise me if he can win again.”

Drawn in barrier four, he will be ridden by Troy Turner. Giadresco, who trained Group 1 winner Early Express in the 2005 Fruit ‘N’ Veg Stakes (now the Northerly Stakes), has scaled back to a small stable that includes Kaptain Kaos and Speak To Me.

In betting, Kaptain Kaos sits at $15 for the Blue Spec Stakes, with Sensessional at $1.85.

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