Capitalist was Australia’s leading sire of winners last season and has been quickly back into stride with the Lindsay Park trained three year-old Stakes getting home in a thrilling contest at Caulfield on Saturday.
A winner on debut at Bendigo and then third at Caulfield at his next start last month, Stakes had race fitness coming into this 1200m assignment and he needed it at the finish.
Ridden by Jye McNeil, Stakes was exposed early at the top of the straight, but stuck to his guns in dogged style to keep coming all the way to the line and win by a head over race favourite Commit, who is by young Capitalist sire son Profiteer.
A big strong gelding, Stakes was a pinhook winner before he became a racetrack winner and has now banked jsust shy of $120,000 from his first three starts.
He was a $160,000 Magic Millions Weanling purchase for Darling View Thoroughbreds from the Attunga Stud draft and then sold for $300,000 when re-offered at Magic Millions as a yearling and purchased by Lindsay Park Racing/ARJB Racing.
“He was exposed at the turn and halfway down the straight I was thinking thank God we put the blinkers on and that seems to have done the trick. It was a good tough effort by the horse,” said co-trainer JD Hayes.
“He’s been a horse that has really improved and had the ultimate gear change when he was younger, but he’s always been one that would develop into a lovely 3YO.
“To have that winter fitness under his belt really came to the fore late today and we are really happy for connections.”
Stakes is the best of two winners from well-bred Star Witness mare She’s Glamourous, an unraced sister to dual Group I winner Global Glamour.
She’s Glamourous has been back to Newgate in recent years and has a yearling filly by Stay Inside and was covered again by him last spring.
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