Snowdens confident Capitalist will return a winner in San Domenico Stakes

Co-trainer Paul Snowden has declared Capitalist as the best horse in the race and is confident he can return a winner in the Group 3 $150,000 Smithfield RSL Club San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Golden Slipper winner Capitalist, above, will step out for the first time as a 3yo in the San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos

Golden Slipper winner Capitalist, above, will step out for the first time as a 3yo in the San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos

Capitalist has been asked to carry 60kg under the set weights and penalties conditions of the San Domenico Stakes at his first run back since winning the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on March 19, but that hasn’t dampened Snowden’s confidence.

“He is the best horse in the race, he has proved that,” Snowden told RSN’s Racing Ahead.

“All the other horses definitely have to prove themselves to beat him so he carries the banner at this stage and they have to take it off him. He is going to the races because he is the best horse in the race.”

Bookmakers at Ladbrokes.com.au agree with Snowden and have Capitalist as the $1.80 favourite for the San Domenico Stakes ahead of the Team Hawkes trained Star Turn at $3.50.

Paul  Snowden along with co-trainer and father Peter Snowden are pleased to finally see the sun shining in Sydney after they delayed the start of Capitalist’s 2016 Spring Carnival campaign when they scratched the colt from last weekend’s Group 2 $175,000 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick because of the heavy track conditions.

But Team Snowden weren’t disappointed when their new stable recruit Tycoon Tara lead all the way to win the Missile Stakes at her stable debut.

Paul Snowden did admit that he was keen to run Capitalist against the older horses in the weight for age Missile Stakes but was happy in the end to be overruled by his dad.

“I put my hand up to run him I’ll admit that but I say that Dad is more wiser than me and I dare say after watching our first race of the day, our first race was about race five, I turned to him and said God bless you, you did the right thing,” Paul Snowden said.

“He said yeah I know.”

“It turned out good for the stable with Tycoon Tara winning but with this colt it was the right thing for the horse definitely.”

Saturday’s Rosehill track is currently rated as a Soft 7 but with more sun today and tomorrow, the track is certain to be upgraded at some stage on race day.

“It has been some decent weather this week and our tracks needed that to bounce back and it is going to be a good days racing,” Paul Snowden said.

Capitalist has drawn barrier four in the small six horse San Domenico Stakes field and has Golden Slipper winning jockey Blake Shinn back in the saddle for his first appearance in the new racing season as a three year old.

Second favourite Star Turn is also resuming from a spell after finishing sixth to Capitalist in the Golden Slipper.

Like the Snowden colt, Star Turn has won both his barrier trials in preparation for his Spring Carnival debut and will jump from the outside of the field with Tommy Berry aboard.

The undefeated Tango Rain is on the third line of betting at $5 with Kerrin McEvoy to ride from barrier five.

The Gerald Ryan trained Tango Rain is a winner from his only two starts and broke his maiden status with a win over 1100m at Canterbury before stepping up to Saturday class to lead all of the way to win an Open two year old Handicap over 1200m at Canterbury again.

San Domenico Stakes market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $1.80 Capitalist, $3.50 Star Turn, $5 Tango Rain, $14 Mount Panorama, $17 Manolo Blahniq, Kentucky Miss.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.