Paul Snowden has assured punters that despite missing a Sydney trial the team’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic favourite Capitalist is still on track for Saturday week’s Gold Coast major.
Capitalist missed a Sydney trial but is still odds-on to win the 2016 Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast on January 9. Photo: Steve Hart.
Two-year-old Written Tycoon colt Capitalist is odds-on favourite in futures betting at Ladbrokes.com.au for the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) in Queensland on January 9, but was suffering high temperatures last week.
Winner of the Listed Breeders Plate (1000m) at Randwick on debut on October 3, the promising youngster blitzed his rivals by nearly three lengths in the Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1100m) last start on December 17.
He was set to trial at Randwick on Tuesday morning, but Snowden opted not to take a chance with the up-and-comer who bypassed the hit-out after he was found to have a slightly elevated temperature.
“Despite what you might have heard, he’s not on death’s door,” co-trainer Paul Snowden, who prepares the horse in partnership with his father Peter, told Racing Victoria trackside at the trials on Tuesday.
“He had a temperature just a tick or two above what is normal, but he’s still licking the bin and feeling good.
“You just don’t take any chances with a horse this good.
“He could have trialled and if he wasn’t the hot favourite for a $2 million race, then he would have had a spin around, but we just decided to err on the side of caution because of the big stakes that are up for grabs.”
Snowden is confident Capitalist can still salute for the punters in the upcoming restricted classic with the Randwick trial a non-crucial part in the horse’s lead-up.
“It just fitted in well to his schedule but it just means that we’re going to have to give him another gallop at home,” he said.
“We’ve got plenty of time up our sleeve as he won’t leave (to go to the Gold Coast) until next Wednesday.”
Second favourite for this summer’s Magic Millions Classic at a juicer price of around $7 in the all-in markets is Zelady’s Night Out from the Brisbane stables of Tony Gollan.
The Myboycharlie filly is also undefeated boasting a flawless three-from-three record to date including back-to-back black-types at her two most recent runs.
Two back on December 12 she beat home Royal Tithe by two and a quarter lengths at Doomben in the Listed Calaway Gal Stakes (1050m) before her one length success at the Gold Coast in the Group 3 B.J. McLachlan Stakes (1200m) on Boxing Day.
BJ McLachlan Stakes runner-up, Snitzel filly Slumber Party prepared by Sydney’s Gai Waterhouse pays $10 to win the Gold Coast’s restricted feature early next month while third past the post in the lead-up run Nikitas is another Snitzel progeny and is slightly shorter at $9, prepared by Eagle Farm-based Kelso Wood.
