Co-trainer Peter Snowden named the Moir Stakes 2016 as a possible early Melbourne target for the stable’s surprise San Domenico Stakes failure Capitalist who the team is desperate to avoid penalty races and wet tracks with.
Capitalist could head to Melbourne for the weight-for-age 2016 Moir Stakes in late September. Photo: Daniel Costello.
Last season the star son of Written Tycoon won four of his five two-year-olds starts including most famously the $3.5 million Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 19.
He was scratched from a first-up run in the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) due to a Heavy Randwick track a fortnight again and instead raced against his own kind last Saturday in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill.
Capitalist made his three-year-old debut on the back of two winning Randwick trials and jumped the $2 favourite, but under the 60kg top weight he laboured late on the Soft (7) track and could only manage to finish 3.2 lengths away fourth to Star Turn.
It has been back to the drawing board then for Peter & Paul Snowden who were down to meet with managing owner James Harron of the $3.5 million earner on Monday afternoon to re-evaluate spring plans.
Originally they were looking at the $175,000 Group 2 The Run To The Rose (1200m) on August 27 into the $1 million Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) on September 10.
The Run To The Rose is another set weights plus penalties event however and Snowden isn’t confident he wants the horse to give the kilos away again on way to the Group 1.
“I’m keen to dodge the set weights and penalties races. We want to be in races where the weights are in his favour rather than against him,” Snowden told Racing Victoria.
“No decisions have been made yet but the Run To The Rose would be the same conditions as last Saturday.
“It would be the same ground, same weight conditions and I don’t think he handled the track.
“There is no doubt he was disappointing [in the San Domenico] but there were a few variables you got to take in to .
“He travelled well in the run, cruised up at the furlong but when he let down, he changed stride four or five times, trying to get traction.
“When he couldn’t accelerate quickly he lost confidence and then with the 60kg, it was a big ask with that weight.
“He has pulled up. It definitely wasn’t condition, more the state of the track than anything else on Saturday.”
Capitalist drifted out from top fancy to $8 in the all-in Golden Rose Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au after his weekend loss and where he runs next-up will impact his price to hand Snowden his third win in the three-years-old classic.
The galloper is also officially nominated for the $1 million Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) over the mile on October 8, but Capitalist could be heading south sooner than expected.
A $15 shot in pre-field Caulfield Guineas odds, markets led by Kiwi galloper and JJ Atkins winner Sacred Elixir ($9), Capitalist is being considered for a September 30 run at Moonee Valley Racecourse in the $500,000 Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m).
The short-distance sprint hasn’t been won by a three-year-old since the filly Virage De Fortune (2005) over a decade ago, but Snowden said it was one option for the horse with few suitable set weights (no penalties) races for three-year-olds in Sydney between the Rose and the Caulfield Guineas.
“There is not a race where he would meet his rivals on level weights in Sydney until the Roman Consul Stakes (October 1),” Snowden added.
If he does go to the Moir Stakes Capitalist will be facing off against the likes of champion sprinters Chautauqua and Rob Heathcote’s three-time winner Buffering who won the race in 2012, 2014 and 2015.
Back Capitalist to atone for his loss last weekend at the right price online now at Ladbrokes.com.au!
