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Live sport on SN this weekendCapo Dell Impero continues winning Riccarton run for Andertons
Kevin Robertson, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • May 2nd, 2026 4:20 pm
Capo Dell Impero winning the Hornby Club Founders Cup (2600m) | Photo: Race Images South
The father-and-son training partnership of Brian and Shane Anderton continued on their winning ways at Riccarton on Saturday when veteran stayer Capo Dell Impero captured the Hornby Club Founders Cup (2600m).
The Wingatui-based pair had enjoyed dual stakes success at the venue just seven days earlier thanks to stablemates Inflamed and Bauble, with Capo Dell Impero catching the eye when finishing less than a length and a half behind Bauble in the Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m).
Stepped up to the 2600m of Saturday’s contest, the eight-year-old son of Ghibellines enjoyed the three-kilogram reduction in his topweight of 60kgs thanks to the services of apprentice Jack Taplin, who produced a perfectly judged effort to defeat race favourite Unleash The Best in a slogging finish.
Taplin had his mount travelling sweetly one-off the fence behind the speed throughout and didn’t panic when Unleash The Beast and pacemaker Platinum Goddess went to war 1000m from the winning post.
Capo Dell Impero stalked the pair into the home straight before Taplin sent him after the favourite and they went head-to-head until the closing few strides where Capo Dell Impero drew away to win by half a length.
Shane Anderton was delighted to see his charge back to winning form after not everything has gone his way in recent starts.
“He’s been running some good races without a lot of luck as he has been plagued by bad barriers,” Anderton said.
“He drew the outside in his last three starts but today he drew well and Jack rode him very well and his 3kgs (claim) made a big difference.
“It was a genuinely run race which suits him, but he will be going out for the winter now before we bring him back in the new season.”
Taplin was also thrilled with the victory after being slightly unlucky last week.
“It was a very tough effort,” he said. “He had a lovely run here last week in the Group Three, but got into a bit of trouble at the top of the straight.
“Today it was a smaller field, he got another good run and just outstayed them.
“I was able to ride a race on him, put him in it (the finish) at just the right time and he did the rest.”
Out of the two-win Gallant Guru mare Gallant Babe, Capo Dell Impero is an older full-brother to stablemate Mayor Of Norwood and comes from a family that also includes Patrick Erin, winner of the Gr.1 Metropolitan (2400m) and Gallant Boy, a winner of 15 races, including the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge WFA (1600m).
He has now won nine of his 46 starts and over $323,000 in prizemoney.
