Capitalist justified his short quote to record a dominant victory in the 2016 Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast this afternoon.
Capitalist absolutely blitzed his rivals in the 2016 Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast this afternoon. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Capitalist was the only horse that punters wanted in the lead-up to the Magic Millions Classic and there were a few nervous moments when he was pushed against the fence in the early stages of the race, but he was able to hold his position.
Jockey Blake Shinn elected to get Capitalist off the fence coming around the final bend and he cantered up to his rivals without being asked for an extra effort before he raced away in the final stages of the 2016 Magic Millions Classic.
Shinn has ridden Capitalist in all three of his race starts to date and the leading hoop revealed after the race that the son of Written Tycoon is right up there with the best juveniles that he has ever ridden.
“He was obviously all the rage and he came here as the expected winner,” Shinn said.
“It is very special and it is great to ride a winner for Peter and Paul in this big race.
“He is just a wonderful two-year-old, he is up there with the best that I have ridden and he just does everything right and he is the consummate professional.
“The sky is the limit for him and it is a great feeling.
“He just wants to work with you, he flew the gates today and the key was just to keep him out of trouble.
“He jumped so well, he obviously contested the lead early and we were in a line of four, but he was there comfortably.
“I thought that if I gave away that spot there was a chance I could get pushed even three pairs back, so I had to hold my position.
“He was going well and as soon as I got him off the rail it was smooth sailing from there.
“He is just an amazing horse, he is a great athlete and it is just an honour to be riding this horse for this stable.”
Co-trainer Peter Snowden went into the Magic Millions Classic full of confidence and he revealed after the race that he knew the two-year-old had the raced wrapped up a long way from home.
Snowden believes that Capitalist still has plenty of improvement left in him and could be an even better horse by the time he gets to the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) in March.
“It was everything that you want to see,” Snowden said.
“He jumped well and he showed tremendous gate speed, which he really hasn’t been doing and we haven’t asked him to do.
“He travelled very strongly and I think that Blake was super confident, as I was, from the 700 point on because he doesn’t normally do what he did there and he just pulled himself to the front.
“He is an exciting horse and he has a good future.
“I was very mindful of it (the Golden Slipper) coming into this run and this is only his second race back from a spell, so there is room to move.
“He was ready for today, but the horse is still learning and I think there is more to come.”
Kelso Wood-trained Nikitas found the line strongly to finish a more than credible second, while the well-backed Candika finished in third.
