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Capitvant lands Champagne Stakes at Randwick
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Captivant (2 c ex Speedboat by Commands) became the first winner for Newgate Farm’s first-season sire Capitalist (Written Tycoon) when he made a winning debut on October 17, and the colt can now lay claim to another big landmark for the young stallion when he handed him his first Group 1 winner courtesy of his victory in the ATC Champagne Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
In winning the race, Captivant pocketed $292,000 which means his sire Capitalist moves $220,753 ahead of barnmate Extreme Choice (Not A Single Doubt) in the race to be crowned Australia’s champion first-season sire by earnings, while the son of Written Tycoon (Iglesia) is also sitting atop of the leaderboard in terms of winners, with eight.
Ridden by James McDonald, the colt raced on the fence in midfield in the early part of the contest. As the field rounded the turn, McDonald was happy to sit patiently for a gap to appear and he was duly rewarded for that, shifting the colt through a clear passage at the 300 metre mark and he kept galloping to repel the late advances of Hilal (Fastnet Rock), eventually beating him by a neck.
Last weekend’s Fernhill Handicap (Listed, 1600m) winner Converge (Frankel) ran well to finish to another length and a half away in third.
Captivant - who also became the stallion’s fourth stakes winner - finished third in the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) on April 10, having also occupied that same position in the Skyline Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) on February, while he also finished fifth in the Golden Slipper Stakes and he has now won two of his six career starts for total prize-money earnings of $642,750.
This was the second win in the 1600 metre Group 1 in as many years for Team Snowden, having taken out the race 12 months ago with King’s Legacy (Redoute’s Choice) who is about to embark on his first season in the covering shed at Coolmore Stud in the Hunter Valley.
Peter Snowden said they opted to run the colt in the Group 1 after trainer James Cummings decided to send last-start Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Anamoe (Street Boss) for a spell instead of the $500,000 contest.
"The mail came that he (Anamoe) wasn't going to be here last Saturday so it was a quick change of plans," Snowden said.
"The freshen up for a couple of days in the paddock did him the world of good, it was the best he's ever been out the back and really good in the mounting yard and being back on a Good track as well.
"A few things lined up for him today and he we're really glad with the result we got."
"Super win, it was a magic ride.
"I know we had a good gate (barrier one) but he did all the right moves, gave the horse the rest he needed and waited for as long as he could to balance up again.
"He gave him a squeeze coming to the corner, he picked up for him, so he knew he had something there.
"He gave him another little bit of a rest then asked him for something the last 300 metres and he was really good."
It is fitting that Capitalist’s first Group 1 winner should be trained by Peter Snowden with the stallion himself having been trained to four victories, including the 2016 edition of the Golden Slipper Stakes by the Sydney-based handler and Snowden has shown an affinity in training his progeny with the stallion’s other Group winner, Kalashnikov, also trained by Team Snowden.
Peter Snowden was understandably effusive in his praise for the young stallion.
“It's really special and he's had an unbelievable year,” he said. “To think so many horses have got to the highest level and his three runners in the Golden Slipper. They're winning everywhere so he's done a tremendous job in his first 12 months of his horses hitting the track."
"He's done an amazing job. To get a Group 1 winner, I'm glad it was me that had it, it means a lot to me and the family. He was a great horse to us and to see his stock going to the races and winning like they are and running like they are makes us very proud."
Captivant’s victory once again exemplifies the strength of this crop of first-season sires, with the Champagne Stakes becoming the latest juvenile race to be taken out by the first crop of the class of 2017.
Capitalist’s barnmate Flying Artie (Artie Schiller) sired the Blue Diamond Stakes winner in Artorius, the Golden Slipper Stakes was won by a colt from the first crop of Extreme Choice in the shape of Stay Inside, while Capitalist’s other son Profiteer landed the Inglis Millennium (RL, 1100m) and the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) was taken out by Shaquero - who is from the first crop of Arrowfield Stud shuttler Shalaa (Invincible Spirit).
Bred by Ashleigh Thoroughbreds, the colt was purchased by China Horse Club, Newgate Bloodstock and Starlight Racing for $550,000 at Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2020.
Captivant is out of Speedboat (Commands), who is herself a half-sister to Listed winner Cross Current (Keltrice) and the dam of New Zealand Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Crown Prosecutor (Medaglia d’Oro) and Magic Night Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) winner Willow Creek (Tale Of The Cat).
Speedboat’s colt by Hellbent (I Am Invincible) was purchased by Suman Hedge Bloodstock and Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for $300,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale earlier this year and she produced another colt by the Yarraman Park-based sire last spring.