Co-trainer Paul Snowden is confident Capitalist is primed for his competitive return in the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) on Saturday week, after completing a strong barrier trial at Royal Randwick this morning.
Golden Slipper winner Capitalist completed a strong 850m trial at Royal Randwick on Friday morning. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos
Capitalist has been the standout performer of his age group through his entire racing career so far, and was last seen registering a strong win in the featured Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) on March 19th.
The Written Tycoon colt was allowed to stretch out in the 850m trial; locking in a nice pace battle with blue blood colt El Divino before pulling clear to register his second-consecutive jump-out win.
Snowden told Racing Ahead the team has been pleased with the rising three-year-old’s continually building form and believes he is ready for the 2016 Missile Stakes.
“He’s in a good spot at the moment,” Snowden said.
“He’s pulled up great but he’ll improve a hell of a lot, most of the work he has this whole preparation. He needs to be somewhere close for next Saturday and no doubt today will bring him right on.
“We were more than happy with what happened.”
Trial 3 at Randwick was delayed momentarily as Godolphin-trained filly Calliope played up in the stalls before bursting through the gates onto the Randwick course, causing a number of other runners to spook and follow suit.
Snowden was understandably pleased that Capitalist was not caught up in the drama and revealed the team will settle on Spring Carnival plans following the colt’s first-up run.
“There was a bit of a balls-up at the barriers with the Godolphin horse mucking around which wasn’t ideal, but we got away with it,” Snowden said.
“He’s very fresh at the moment, which was the most worrying aspect because little things like that can certainly set them off. You always hold your heart in your mouth.
“We’ll get Saturday week out of the way and we can go from there.”
Capitalist immediately stamped himself as a colt to follow upon debuting to racing for success in the Listed Breeders’ Plate (1000m) in October last year, and continued to impress in taking out the Wyong Magic Millions 2.y.o Classic (1100m) on December 17th.
Delivering a smart field a resounding defeat in the Gold Coast Magic Millions 2.y.o Guineas (1200m) on January 9th, Capitalist clearly required a run when returning from a freshen-up for second in the Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) on March 5th, but responded with his dominant Golden Slipper triumph.
