The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word PRANCED
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
P
R
A
N
C
E
D
More clues leading to the result PRANCED
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Capered" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case capered = pranced.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does PRANCED mean?
PRANCED verb- (of a horse) To spring forward on the hind legs.
- To strut about in a showy manner.