A quick and daring move by Brenton Avdulla to take Kaepernick from last to first has given the gelding a Group Three win at Randwick.

Kaepernick ($7.50) caught the field napping when he passed them in the straight and went on to record a long head win in Saturday's Southern Cross Stakes (1200m).

Dothraki ($6) was the closest with Boss Lane ($21) another long neck third with $2.05 favourite Deploy weakening from second on the turn to last.

"He travelled really comfortably throughout the run and I got to the corner with a bit of horse," Avdulla said.

"I just didn't want them to get too far ahead of me so I just let him slide and I got there a little quicker then I wanted to but to his credit he kept toughing it out.

"His attitude was great and he did what I wanted."

Formerly with by Hawkes Racing, Kaepernick has been with John O'Shea since last year when he returned to public training after three years with Godolphin.

"I thought he had gone too soon but in the end it was a great Brenton Avdulla ride," O'Shea said.

"This sort of race is his level so we will look for another similar one."

Deploy's trainer Gerald Ryan could offer no explanation for his performance and the gelding will have to trial before he races again.