Placed in the Listed VRC Poseidon Stakes at Flemington last spring as a three year-old behind Growing Empire, Capitalist gelding King of Roseau returned to the same venue on Saturday to capture the Group III VRC Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m).
Trained by Peter Snowden, King of Roseau was a debut winner at Canberra as a pre-Christmas 2YO and while he was competitive in stakes class races after that, he struggled to find the winner’s circle.
Gelded and sent back to Benchmark racing, King of Roseau has found his mojo with strong wins at Rosehill in June and July in Benchmark 78 and then 88 company prompting the trip to Melbourne.
Given a great ride by Mick Dee, King of Roseau let down with a big finish to win by a length and a half taking his overall record to four wins and six placings from 18 starts with prizemoney topping $847,000.
Mick Dee was having his first ride on King of Roseau, but believes there are better wins on the horizon.
"The way he won that, there's definitely bigger things in store for him," he said.
"He'd had the one look down the straight before today in what was a very good form race, he acquitted himself well that day, and he won easily today and gave me a lovely feel."
Peter Snowden can now look towards the future and more raids south to Flemington over the spring.
"Now we know he really likes Flemington there's no doubt we'll be back at some time through the year," Snowden said.
"Not every horse handles Flemington down the straight, but this horse has got a bit of an affinity for it and that was a dominant win there today."
A $95,000 Magic Millions purchase for Pulse Racing Thoroughbreds/Pinhook Bloodstock International from the Ashleigh Thoroughbreds draft, King of Roseau is the second and final foal of Dominica, a Choisir daughter of Group I winner Danni Martine. His breeder Senga Bissett, who bred his mother and his grand-mother has retained a small share.
She can certainly produce a good Capitalist having also bred and sold his first Group I winner Captivant!
King of Roseau is the 25th stakes-winner for Newgate Farm’s Capitalist, who stands at a fee of $44,000 this spring.
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