Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott drew first blood on Victoria Derby Day at Flemington when the Capitalist gelding Kaizad opened his stakes account in the Group III Network 10 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m).
Ridden by Tin Clark, Kaizad led at every call to defeat the I Am Invincible colt Heman by a half-length with favoured Brave Smash (JPN) colt Brave Mead three-quarters of a length back in third.
The winner of a Warick Farm maiden on October 11, Kaizad headed south to finish third to Brave Mead over 1400m at Caulfield ten days later.
“He’s terrific, Tim (Clark). He just understands pace perfectly. He bounced him out of the gates, got him right on the bunny, and it was, see you later, alligator,” Gai Waterhouse said.
“And hopefully, we’ll be seeing the ‘Gator (Alligator Blood) later in the week.
“He’s improved out of sight. He was the most nerdy two-year-old and then the moment he was gelded he changed his attitude and he’s never looked back.
“This is a really good win today. It is a hard race to win, the Carbine Club, and it is nice to win it with a nice horse so I’m really pleased.
“Every time you’d ask him to do something he’d want to do the opposite.”
Tim Clark said he played to the Capitalist gelding strengths.
“He’s got great tactical speed and we were able to utilise that,” he said.
“I wanted to make sure we didn’t back off it too much and turn it into too much of a sit-sprint and tested the rest of the oppositions’ stamina.
“He’s made leaps and bounds this preparation. He’s a completely different horse and obviously the gelding operation played a part in that but also a bit of maturity as well.
“They’ve done a good job handling him, and they’ve turned him out a treat today and it is nice to star the carnival off with a win.”
Kaizad was bred and sold by Kitchwin Hills with Silverdale Farm/Andrew Williams Bloodstock having the final say at $300,000 at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, before being re-offered by Silverdale Farm at Inglis Classic, where he made $390,000 when bought by G Waterhouse / A Bott / Blueblood Thoroughbreds.
He is a full brother to stakes-placed Socialist and half-brother to Group I-placed Cornrow, being the eighth winner from nine to race from stakes-winning Exceed and Excel mare Baby Corn.
Monica Croston purchased a Brutal colt, named Brutal Force, from Baby Corn for $85,000 when offered by Maluka Thoroughbreds at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale and also shelled out $40,000 for Baby Corn’s weanling King’s Legacy filly consigned by Merrick Station to the 2023 Inglis Great Southern Sale.
Baby Corn was covered by Kermadec last year.
Kaizad is the 16th stakes-winner for Newgate Farm’s Golden Slipper winner Capitalist.
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