Capitalist Headlines Missile Stakes field

The 2016 Missile Stakes field has been released and Golden Slipper winner Capitalist is set to return to the races in the Group 3 event at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Capitalist will start his 2016 Spring Racing Carnival campaign in the Missile Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart

Capitalist will start his 2016 Spring Racing Carnival campaign in the Missile Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart

Capitalist was sent to the spelling paddock after he recorded an impressive victory over Yankee Rose and Flying Artie in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 19, but he showed that he was ready for a return to the races with two classy barrier trials at Royal Randwick on July 15 and July 29.

The son of Written Tycoon will carry just 51.5 kilograms with Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle and his performance in the Missile Stakes will determine which path he heads during the 2016 Spring Racing Carnival.

The other Group 1 winner that has been included in the Missile Stakes field is Rebel Dane, who has not been seen at the races since he finished a credible fourth behind English in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on April 16.

Rebel Dane does not win out of turn at this stage of his career, but he normally runs extremely well fresh and he has four victories from his eight first-up starts.

Another horse that is set to return to the races in the Missile Stakes is Godolphin-owned Generalife.

Generalife raced well without winning in races like the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m), Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) and Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m), but he has not recorded a race win since he took out the Star Kingdom Stakes in March of last year.

One of the most interesting horses in the 2016 Missile Stakes field is Tycoon Tara, who is set to make her debut for Team Snowden in the Group 2 event.

Tycoon Tara has been an inconsistent performer during her racing career to date and she will likely take a fair amount of benefit out of her first-up run, but she trialed well behind Capitalist, El Divino and Scarlet Rain at Royal Randwick last weekend.

The 2016 Missile Stakes field is rounded out by veteran sprinter Big Money (barrier one), Allan Denham-trained Mount Nebo (barrier four) and the inconsistent Wouldnt It Be Nice (barrier seven).

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.